





^ 



■-^c.^ 
♦^■v. 



c 
.3' 











,^^^^ 



OK 








o • k " . ■ vD 














i^ -„.*'' ^ 



**^ .-j^.-.S 





•^,. „< 



.*"» .-y^ 





^^^^^w^ 



fOHK , HAIx^PF.B * BIl.nHF.kS , l84g . 



; ■ " ^ 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



AIERICM BIBLE SOCIETY. 



REVISED, AND BROUGHT DOWN TO THE 
PRESENT TIME. 



h, BY Wi'P.'STEIGKLAND, D.D, 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY REV. N. L. RICE, D.D., 

OF CINCINNATI. 



' The Lord gave the word ; great was the company of those that published it." 

Psalm Ixviii., 11. 



^ ll^% 






NEW YORK: 
HARPER k BROTHERS, PUBLISH ERS^ 

PEARL STBEET, FBANKLIN SQUARE. 

1856. 

No,/. 



^ 



.to 



n|^^\i^ 



^ <\i 




IJntovcJ, according to Act of Congress, in the year one tliousnnd eight 
Inmdrcd and fifty-six, by ^ 

• ■ i 

IIAKrUK & BROTIIHRS, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern Mstrict 
of New York. 



TO 

THE OFFICERS AND MANAGERS 

OF THK 

AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, 

Ql\^\Q toork 

IS RESPECTFULLY AND AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. 



RECOMMENDATION. 



Undekstanding that the Eev. Dr. Strickland is about issuing a 
revised and improved edition of his History of the American Bible 
Society, we embrace the opportunity, as individuals, to express our 
favorable opinion of the work. It contains much information that 
must be very valuable to all who take an interest in the spread of 
the Holy Scriptures. As the author was for several years an agent 
of the American Bible Society, he enjoyed great facilities for be- 
coming intimately acquainted with the Society, its policy, and opera- 
tions. "We believe the work to be substantially correct and reliable. 
We therefore very cheerfully comply with the request of the re- 
spected author to express this opinion, and to commend the work to 
the Christian public, and especially to the friends of the Bible cause. 
We hope the work may have an extensive circulation. 

J, C. Beigham, 
Joseph Holdich. 



PREFACE 



The necessity of some such work as the following 
was suggested to the mind of the author when he en- 
tered upon his duties as agent of the American Bihle 
Society several years since. 

He found the field of lahor in which he had en- 
gaged one concerning the nature of which he kn^w 
hut little. To ohtain such information as would qual- 
ify him for his work, it therefore hecame necessary for 
him to study the policy and operations of the society, 
as contained in the printed reports, circulars, and let- 
ters of instruction issued from the Board from time to 
time, and emhracing a period of many years. He 
found that, to give a full and intelligihle answer in 
regard to almost any important topic connected with 
the society, the whole field of its operations must he 
searched, and the scattered fragments lying here and 
there must he gathered up and arranged. 

In the preparation of each of the thirty -nine chap- 
ters, with hut few exceptions, the writer has traveled 
over the entire ground every time, collecting from the 
reports and collateral documents every important fact 
connected therewith. 

He has made no attempt whatever at emhellish- 
ment, his ohject having heen to present a plain, un- 
varnished narrative of facts, as they have occurred in 



yi PREFACE. 

the operations of the society, in consecutive order. 
How far he has succeeded in this humble attempt is 
left for the reader to determine. 

For assistance in the compilation of the work, the 
writer acknowledges his indebtedness to the follow- 
ing works : Dr. Spring's Life of Rev. Samuel J. Mills, 
Home's Introduction, Townley's Biblical Literature, 
Buchanan's Researches in Asia, Anderson's Annals 
of the English Bible, D'Aubigne's Reformation, Ed- 
wards's Missionary Gazetteer, Choules's History of 
Missions, Wyckoff's Bible Question, &c. He also 
takes pleasure in acknowledging his indebtedness to 
the Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., Corresponding Secre- 
tary of the American Bible Society. 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 



CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY PRIOR TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN 

BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Advent of the Puritans — Causes which led them to seek an Asylum in this New 
World — Their Love for the Bible and Rights of Conscience — Incorporation of Bi- 
ble Principles with the Institutions of the Countiy — Hume's Testimony concern- 
ing the Puritans — The Edict of Henry VIII. respecting the Reading of the Scrip- 
tures revoked — Scriptures with diflBculty obtained — The May Flower and the Bi- 
ble — Webster's Bunker Hill Oration — Efforts of the Colonists to supply the Scrip- 
tures — Laws requiring eveiy Family to have a Copy of — Meeting of the First Con- 
gress — Made no Laws for the establishment of Religion — Protects all in the en- 
joyment of the Rights of Conscience — Washington's Address — ^Action of Congress 
in reg'ard to Bible Destitution — Appointment of a Committee— Population of the 
Country — Number of Bibles in the World — Report of the Committee — Congress 
ordered an Importation of English Bibles — Subsequently recommended the Print- 
ing an Edition of the Bible — This a Bible Nation — Congress a Bible Society — 
De Tocqueville — Infidel Revolution in France — No Bibles — Rome — Testimony 
of American Statesmen — Love of the Bible — A national Sentiment — Illustrative 
Licident — Testimony of the most profound Scholar of the Age — Example of the 
Friends of the Bible Cause in England — Organization of local Bible Societies in 
this Country — DiflBculty of procuring Books — Copies often defective — Anxiety of 
Christians to circulate the Scriptures Page 17 

CAUSES WHICH PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. 
Careful. Consultation of oflScial Records — Drs. Biggs and Beecher — Dr. Beech- 
er only surviving Oflficer of Convention — Dr. Spring — His Devotion to the Bible 
Cause — Subject of an Organization discussed — Communications in Relation to — 
General Interest awakened — Correspondent of the Panoplist — Importance of Or- 
ganization argued — New Jersey Bible Society — Origination of a Plan — Sent to 
Sister Bible Societies — Board of Managers of the New York Bible Society — Res- 
olutions of — Hon. Elias Boudinot — Calling of a Convention — Extent of the Invita- 
tion — Interesting Facts and Incidents furnished by Dr. Beecher — First Cause 
which led the Way to the Formation of the Society — Second — Third — Rev. Sam- 
uel J. Mills — His personal Appearance and Character — Personal Conversation — 
Meeting of the Convention — Sublime Spectacle — DiflSculties in combining all De- 
nominations — Fears and Hopes — Difficulties threatened — Dr. Mason — His happy 
Mode of dispelling Difficulties — Successful Issue 23 

ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. 
Command of Jesus Christ — Primary Object of the Bible Society — Christians of 
almost every Denomination from all Parts of the Country represented in the Con- 
vention — Names of Officers and Members of the Convention — Model of an Evan- 
gelical Alliance — Protestant Rule — Committee to draft Constitution — Report of 
Committee — Constitution adopted Article by Article — Election of Managers — 
Election of Officers — Address to the People of the United States — Nature of the 



viii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

Discussions in the Convention — Exclusion of Sectarianism — Different Churches — 
The good Feelings which prevailed — Divine Approbation — Many Doubts settled 
in regard to the Feasibility of the Organization — Reliance upon the Divine Bless- 
ing Page 27 

MANAGERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Officers known to the Constitution — Number of Managers — Ex-officio Mem- 
bers of the Board — Powers vested in the Board by the Constitution — Officers of 
the Society — Special and Standing Committees — By-Laws — First Officers all de- 
ceased — Only two or three surviving Managers — Scrupulous Economy — Society 
has no permanent Funds — Managers and Officers perform their Duties gratui- 
tously — Present Officers of the Society 35 

BIBLE HOUSE. 
Pecuniary Condition of the Society at its Organization — Want of a Bible House, 
Materials, &c. — Kindness and Hospitality of early Friends — Stereotype Plates — 
Applications for Bibles — Supplied by the New York Bible Society — Present of 
Stereotype Plates — Donation from British and Foreign Bible Society — Commit- 
tee of Five to take Charge of Property of Society — Powers of — Prospects of 
Success — Location of surplus Stereotype Plates — Discussion in relation there- 
to — Final Action — Conditions on which Plates should be loaned — Importance of 
concentrating the Business of the Society in one Establishment — Propriety of 
erecting a Bible House discussed — Corner Stone laid in 1822 — Finished same 
Year — Description of Bible House — Additional Buildings — Number and Kinds 
of Presses employed — Number of Bibles printed daily — Number of Hands — 
Kinds and Qualities of Bibles printed — Reprint of the Annual Reports — Publica- 
tion of the " Brief View of the Plan of Operations of the American Bible Soci- 
ety" — Also a *' Statement as to the Character of foreign Versions printed by the 
Society"— Bible for the Blind— Ojibwa— New Bible House 53 

ACTS OF INCORPORATION. 
Importance of — Form of a Bequest to the Society — Act of Legislature of New 
York in relation to the Society's Property — An Act to confirm certain Trusts — 
An Act to incorporate the American Bible Society — Proceedings had by the Board 
after the Passage of the Act of Incorporation — An Ordinance to establish a Board 
of Managers and for other Purposes 65 

PRINTING, PUBLICATION, AND CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 
Home Field — Number of Copies of the Scriptures printed the first Year — Num- 
ber issued — Number gratuitously circulated — First Donation — Resolution of the 
Society in relation to gratuitous Distributions — Second Year, numbers printed — 
Issued— Donated— ThirdYear— Fourth— Fifth— Sixth— Seventh— Eighth— Ninth 
—Tenth— Eleventh— Twelfth— Thirteenth— Fourteenth— Fifteenth— Sixteenth- 
Seventeenth — Eighteenth — Nineteenth — Twentieth — Twenty-first — Second — 
Third— Fourth —Fifth — Sixth— Seventh —Eighth — Ninth —Thirtieth— Thirty- 
first— Second— Third— Fourth— Fifth— Sixth— Seventh— Eighth— Ninth— Bibles 
in foreign Languages imported — Total Number issued — Immigrants — German — 
French — Irish — Italian — Swede — Welshmen — Spaniard — Jew — Pole — Arab — 
Norwegian, and others — Auxiliaries — Universal Circulation — Opposition from Ro- 
man Catholics — Burned the Bible — Effi^rts of, to exclude it from Common Schools 
— Citizens taxed to educate Romanists — Papal Rapacity — Roman Bishop's Declara- 
tion — Opinion of Congress in an Address to the People of Great Britain in regard 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. jx 

to the Character of Romanism — University of France — Bible in our Common 
Schools — Among Slaves— Efforts to supply — Committee appointed by Board to in- 
vestigate the Subject — Their Report Page 68 

BIBLE IN PRISONS. 
Convicts — Objects of Christian Sympathy — Example of Christ — Punishment 
reformatory — Every Cell should be supplied with the Bible — Penitentiaries, Jails, 
Hospitals, Houses of Correction and Refuge, supplied by Auxiliaries — Donations 
made to State Prisons — Connecticut — Auburn — Virginia — Sing-Sing — New York 
—Ohio— Writer's Visit to in 1847— V^arden— Chaplain— Good Effects of Bible 
and Sabbath Schools — Scene in the Chapel — The Commission of Christ to the 
Church 83 

BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN AND BOATMEN. 
Marine Bible Society of New York — Design of— Grant of Bibles to — To numer- 
ous Marine Bible Societies Grants made — Interesting Statistics — Agent employed 
by New York Marine Bible Society — Sailors' Reading-room — Rev. Mr. Shaw's Com- 
munication — Describes the Field of Operation — Demands increasing — Prevalence 
of Temperance — Diffusion of Religious Books — Erection of Seamen's Chapels — 
Chaplains at Mobile — Havre — Smyrna — Rio Janeiro — Honolulu and Canton — 
Bread upon the Waters — Bibles for Singapore — Martha's Vineyard — Communica- 
tion in regard to Canals in the West — Lakes — Grants to numerous Societies. .* 86 

BIBLE IN THE ARMY. 
Bible early introduced into the Army of the United States — Request from an 
OfHcer of high Rank — Arrangements for a systematic Supply of Subalterns and 
Privates — Lieutenant Kinsley — Soldiers at West Point — Supply of Military Posts 
— Permission from War Department to send Bibles, &c. — Report of Chaplain on 
Governor's and Bedlow's Islands — Interesting Facts and Incidents — Supply to 
Major Thompson, of Cantonment Leavenworth — Supply of remote Military Posts 
— Rev. N. Sayre Harris and others — An Association of Clergymen who had once 
been connected with Army and Navy — Chaplain at Fort Brooke — Soldiers in Mex- 
ican Army , 95 

BIBLE IN THE NAVY. 
Donation to the United States Ship John Adams in 1818 — Proposition of the 
Managers to the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy to supply that Department 
with Bibles — Entertained in a pleasing Manner — Three thousand five hundred Bi- 
bles granted to furnish every Officer and Seaman in the Navy — Instructions from 
the Navy Department in relation to Preservation and Use of — Naval Stations sup- 
phed — Norfolk — Washington City — Portsmouth — Charleston — New Orleans — 
New York and Philadelphia — Captain Chauncey — Captain Creighton — United 
States Naval Chaplain — Ships of War — Extract of Letter from Captain John C. 
Long, Commander of United States Schooner Dolphin in the Pacific — Interesting 
Disposition of Bibles — Sloops of War — Ship of War Belle Poule, commanded by a 
Son of Louis Philippe — Ship Columbus — Ship Ohio — Army and Navy Committee 
— United States Frigate Congress 98 

BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 
Interest awakened in their Behalf — Sunday-school Bible published — Price re- 
duced — Liberal Gratuities to Sabbath Schools — Organization of the British and 
Foreign Bible Society suggested by supplying Sunday School in Wales — Interest- 



X SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

ing Incident — Supply of Sunday Schools an appropriate Work — Appropriations 
made to Institutions of a general Character — Sunday Schools first established in 
England — Met Opposition — Found in every Christian Country — Missionary Sta- 
tions — King of Prussia — Advantages of early Training — American Sunday-school 
Union — Resolutions passed by the Board in regard to the Supply of Sunday Schools 
by Auxiliaries — New York Sunday-school Union — Massachusetts — Methodist Epis- 
copal — Protestant Episcopal — Resolutions passed by the Board for the Promotion 
of the Circulation and Reading of the Scriptures by Youth and Children — Accept- 
able to the Auxiliaries — Canada Sunday-school Union — Sunday-school Union of 
Reformed Dutch Church — These Unions prohibited from making Donations where 
Auxiliaries existed — General Synod Sunday-school Union Page 102 

BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 
Distributers first appointed by Auxiliaries — Friends who offered their Services 
gratuitously — This Course universally pursued by the Auxiliaries — By this Means 
thousands of Famihes were put in possession of the Bible — The Plan had its Dif- 
ficulties — An Effort made to supply every Family in the United States in two 
Years — Suggestion came from a highly respected Auxiliary, accompanied by a 
Pledge of five thousand Dollars — Other Auxiliaries approved — Annual Meeting 
of the Society sanctioned the Enterprise — At the Expiration of three Years the 
Work was done — Reaction — Thought by many the Bible Work was completed — 
Many Auxiliaries died — Many disastrous Results — In 1839 another Proposition 
was made to the Board by one of its Auxiliaries to supply the entire World in 
twenty Years — Tne Annual Meeting resolved to attempt its Accomplishment as 
soon as practicable — Application from American Tract Society — Discussions in re- 
gard to Propriety of Tract Colporteurs distributing Scriptures gratuitously — Char- 
acter of the American Tract Society — Resolutions of the Board on the Subject of 
Bible Distribution — History of the PoUcy of the Society — Circular of American 
Tract Society to Colporteurs — Plan of the Committee on Distribution — Appoint- 
ment of Bible Distributers — Resolutions of said Committee — Adopted by the Board 
— The Plan an admirable one — Co-operation of Auxiliaries desirable — Circulation 
of the Life-giving Word 110 

BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. 
This Country the Possession and Home of the Indian — Natural Suggestion — 
Early Emblem — The Device of that Emblem — Indian Bible the first printed on the 
American Continent — Corporation for the Propagation of the Gospel — Second 
Edition of the Bible — Translation into Indian Language an lierculean Labor- — 
Objects that first claimed the Attention of the American Bible Society — First Grant 
of Money — Missionaries of the United Brethren — Delaware Indians — Tuscaroras 
— Mohawk — Montreal Bible Society — Indians at Lake of the Two Mountains — 
Caughnawaga Village — Indians Roman Catholics — Council of Chiefs in regard to 
receiving the Scriptures — Mission Schools among Indians supplied — Senecas — 
Cherokees and Choctaws — Grant to the American Board for Indian Missions un- 
der their Care — Appropriation toward printing Cherokee Scriptures — Bible Soci- 
ety among the Indians — Interesting Letter — Methodist Mission among Indians in 
Canada assisted — Letter from Missionary at Bay of Quinte — Bishop Kemper — 
Green Bay — Indian Church Members — Appropriation for printing New Testa- 
ment in the Dacotah Language — Indians at Lac qui Parle Mission — Quapaw In- 
dians — Ojibwa Indians near Lake Superior — Creek Indians — Cherokee Bible So- 
ciety — Choctaws — Presbyterian Board of Missions for Indian Stations — American 
Board 124 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xi 

BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. 
Mission among the Flat-head Indians — Grant of Bibles to Missionaries — English 
and German Bibles and Testaments to Methodist Missionaries — Grant to an inde- 
pendent Missionary — American Board of Commissioners — Immigrants for Oregon 
— Rev. Mr. Roberts, Superintendent of Oregon Mission — Home Missionary Society, 
a Grant of Bibles and Testaments in English, German, French, and Spanish Lan- 
guages — Communication from Mr. Roberts — Condition of the Territory — Roman- 
ism, Campbellism, Rationalism, Socinianism, and Infidelity — Country trying and 
captivating to the Church — Hopes of the Colony clouded — Awful Providence — Or- 
phan Asylum — Boarding School at Tualatin Plains — California — The Ophir of the 
West and the El Dorado of the Poet — The Gold Mania — Bibles sent by the Board 
— ^More precious than Gold — And more plentiful too Page 128 

TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES. 
Short History of the English Bible — Translation in Anglo-Saxon Verse in sev- 
enth Century — Psalms translated by Adhelm — Saxon Version of the four Gospels 
by Egbert, eighth Century — Entire Bible by the Venerable Bede — Ninth Century, 
Alfred the Great — Portions of the Bible in Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman — 
Dark Ages — Middle of fourteenth Century — Passing off of the Moral Eclipse — 
Translation of the Bible by Wiclif— Other Translations — Entire Bible by Tyndal 
— His literary Attainments — His Persecutions — His Translations seized and burn- 
ed — Himself strangled to Death and Body burned — Miles Coverdale — Cranraer — 
Great Bible — Number of Bibles in Circulation among the English in 1553 — Use 
of Scriptures prohibited by Mary — Coverdale and English Exiles at Geneva — Pub- 
lication of Scriptures in Time of Elizabeth — Bishop's Bible — Rheimish Version at 
Douay — Our present Version — King James I. — Dr. Reynolds, Oxford — Names of 
the Translators and Places of Meeting — Division into Classes — Rules for Govern- 
ment of— -Completion of the Work — Different Evangelical Churches satisfied with 
— Collation of English Bibles by American Bible Society — Fac simile of King 
James's Version — Supervisory Committee — Result of Investigations — English Bi- 
ble universally read — Sun never sets upon it — First Translation made by the Amer- 
ican Bible Society — Language of the Six Nations — Peruvian — Languages of India 
— Hawaiian Language — Seneca Indians — Mahratta Language — Hebrew and He- 
brew-Spanish — Resolutions of the Board sent to the several Missionary Stations in 
regard to Translations of the Scriptures into foreign Languages — The Principle on 
which Translations made definitely fixed — Board could not encourage nor assist in 
any Translation that did not conform in the Principles of their Translation to the 
common EngUsh Version, so far, at least, as that all religious Denominations rep- 
resented in the Society could consistently use and circulate them — Resolutions sent 
to each of the Missionary Boards — Concurrence of Protestant Episcopal, American 
and Foreign, and Methodist Episcopal Boards therewith — Parts of the Old Testa- 
ment translated into Hawaiian — Old and New in Armenian — Armeno-Turkish and 
Hebrew-Spanish — Tamul — Grebo — ^Mohawk — Dacotah — Ojibwa — Modern Syriac 
— Modern Armenian — Hebrew-Spanish — Hebrew-German — Urdu — Punjabee — 
Hindee — Number of foreign Languages into which Translations have been made by 
the Society — Subject of Translations important and difficult — Difficulty originating 
■with Baptists — Impartial Statement — Letter from Mr. Packard — Request of Mr, 
Pearce, of Calcutta, in regard to printing a Translation of the Bengalese Scrip- 
tures on the Principle adopted by Baptist Missionaries in Burmah — Resolution of 
Committee on Distribution — Subject referred to a Committee of Seven — One from 
each Denomination represented in the Board — vStatements of that Committee — The 
Baptists asked for a Version which only themselves could consistently use and cir- 



xii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

culate — Calcutta and British and Foreign Bible Society refused them Aid on that 
very Ground — Committee never knew before that such Translations as the Bur- 
mese were made and approved by any Denominations of Christians in India or 
elsewhere — Could not grant their Request for various Reasons — Violation of Com- 
pact — Sectarian — Resolutions in regard to — Protest of Dr. Cone, Baptist Member 
of Committee — Charged the Board with Inconsistency — Asserted that the Demand 
was in accordance with the Regulations of the Society — Charged the Board with 
Injustice — Board learned for the first Time that Dr. Judson's Translation was ex- 
clusively Sectarian, though it was pubUshed at the Expense of the Society — The 
Version of the Baptists claimed to be " correct and faithful" — Charge of Injustice 
no candid Baptist would believe well founded — Unjust to have complied with their 
Demands — Unheard of Requirement — The Board charged with having changed its 
Policy — Had published such Versions before — This denied — Had been deceived in 
two Instances — Another Charge — Unfounded — Strange Inconsistency — German 
and Dutch Bibles — Rule of Society — English Bible set up as a Standard — Reply 
— Last Charge — Statement in regard to pecuniary Matters — Legacy of Mr. Marsh 
— Baptist Assumption — Rejection of the Term " Baptist" in their Charter — Amer- 
ican Bible Union Page 130 

BIBLE IN CANADA. 
Society forwarded Bibles through the Vermont Bible Society — French Bibles — 
Rev. Thaddeus Osgood — Montreal Bible Society — Bibles sent to Mr. Hoyt — Letter 
from Corresponding Secretary of Montreal Bible Society — Annual Report of same 
Society — Sanstead — Archdeacon Wix — The Destitute of Newfoundland — Settlers 
between St. John's and Bay of Islands — Emissaries of the Church of Rome — 
Straits of Belle Isle — Missionary Society of Methodist Episcopal Church — Amer- 
ican Baptist Home Missionary Society — Resolution of Montreal Bible Society — 
Grant to — Report of— Causes of Opposition — British and Foreign Bible Society — 
Condition of the Country — Manner in which Scriptures received — Opposition of 
Papal Clergy — Bible and Priest-— Alternately burn each other — Grants — Madame 
Feller — Swiss Mission in Canada — Rev. Caleb Strong, of Montreal — Rev. Mr. Wolf 
— French Canadian Missionary Society — Schools — Destitute Families at Grand 
Ligne — Rev. H. W^ilson was granted Bibles and Testaments for a Colony of Color- 
ed Persons ; 166 

BIBLE IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. 
Sources of Information in regard to Introduction of Bible into, consulted — Com- 
munication from an American Gentleman residing in Mexico to the Board — Re- 
ception of Scriptures there — Correspondence opened with an intelligent Gentleman 
residing in the City of Mexico — Communication from Rev. Mr. Brigham — Personal 
Knowledge of and extensive Correspondence — His Statements in regard to Con- 
dition of the Country — Spanish Bibles sent to Agents — Letter from Mr. Brigham, 
dated Vera Cruz — Made Arrangements for Sale and Distribution of Bibles — Amer- 
ican Consul — His Co-operation — Matamoras, Tampico, Puebla, and Mazatlan — Bi- 
bles and Testaments sent — Letter from an Agent of British and Foreign Bible So- 
ciety, residing in Mexico, to Rev. Dr. Milnor, Secretary for Foreign Correspond- 
ence, propounding Questions in regard to the Circulation of the Protestant Scrip- 
tures — Some of the Priesthood in favor of the Circulation of the Scriptures — Be- 
came Members of the British and Foreign Bible Society — Query — Large Sale of 
Bibles in nine Months — San Juan de Los Lagos — Annual Fair — Splendid Temple 
— Idol worshiped an Image of the Virgin Mary — Aguas Calientes — Queretaro, Ze- 
laya, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara — Parts of Scriptures 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xiii 

sold — But one Diocese in Mexico prohibiting Sale and Circulation of the Bible — 
Not eight Copies of the Spanish Bible in the entire State of Chihuahua — Bibles 
sent there and to Western Coast — Distracted State of the Country — Province of 
Texas — Sumner Bacon, Esq. — Nine out of every Ten in the Jurisdiction of Na- 
cogdoches destitute of the Scriptures — Bibles sent to City of Mexico — Revolt of 
Texas — Independence acknowledged by other Sovereignties and annexed to the 
United States — Prior to its Admission into the Union a Bible Society was formed 
at Houston, the Capital — Members of Congress and other distinguished Individu- 
als participated in the Exercises — An Agent of the American Bible Society sold 
to the Society a large Stock of Bibles — Resolutions of Texas Bible Society — Amer- 
ican Merchant at Mazatlan — Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions — Yucatan — 
Bibles sent — W. H. Brown, Esq. — War with Mexico — Treaty — Supply of Soldiers 
— Greater Efforts to supply Mexico with the Bible — Sword of the Spirit — An Agent 
sent by the Board — Rev. Mr. Norris — Took a large Stock of Bibles in the English, 
Spanish, French, and German Languages — An interesting Incident — Letter from 
Mr. Norris — Protestant Worship not tolerated in Mexico — Privilege of Sepulture 
denied — Great Number of Churches — Religious Establishments in Puebla — Church 
holds three fourths of the real Capital — Number of Priests — Character — Moral and 
social Influence over the lower Classes — Influence over the Institutions of the Coun- 
try — Education — Females — Leperos — Opinion of a Priest concerning — Peones and 
Indians — Robberies — Persons engaged in — Biblical Wants of the People — Padre 
Scio's Bible — Bibles burned by the Bishop of Mexico — The War no Advantage to 
Christian Enterprise — Toleration for Protestantism never asked for by the Govern- 
ment — Some encouraging Features in present Aspect of Affairs — A political Party 
— Bibles circulated by Agent — Causes of Difference between United States and 
Mexico Page 169 

BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 
Prospect of introducing the Scriptures into — Board procured a Set of Stereotype 
Plates — Scriptures in Spanish sent to — Primary Schools in Municipality of Bue- 
nos Ayres — Extensive Correspondence opened — Liberal Donations from the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society to American Bible Society for South America — Fa- 
vorable Change in Spanish Colonies — Correspondence in relation to printing Padre 
Scio's Version of New Testament — Scriptures sent to different Parts of Country — 
Arrangements made for printing Padre Scio's Version — Demand for Scriptures 
increase — Bibles sent — A Version approved of by Roman Catholics — Vulgate — 
The Bible found by Luther in his Cell — Patagonia — Provinces on both Sides of the 
Parana, Monte Video, Bahia, the Brazils, Valparaiso, Chili, Mendoza — Efforts to 
enlighten — Formation of a National Bible Society at Bogota — Donation of the 
Board to their Depository — Establishment of a Society at the City of Caraccas — 
Interesting Communications fram Mr. John C. Brigham, Agent of the American 
Board — Wants of the Country — Facilities for supplying — Mr. Brigham's Distribu- 
tions of Bibles in the Republics of Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mex- 
ico — Grants made to various Agents — Sold to Merchants — Extravagant Prices — 
Bibles intrusted to a Gentleman trading on Magdalena River — Also to a Gentleman 
at Maracaibo — Vessel wrecked— Bibles plundered by Indians — Sold by them at 
high Prices to Citizens — Philippine Islands — Surinam and Paramaribo — Country 
involved in War — British and Foreign Bible Society exclude the Apocrypha from 
Spanish Bible — Circulation restricted — Sale prohibited by Ecclesiastical Decree — 
Grounds of stated — A Box of Testaments sent to Valparaiso — Objections to un- 
canonical Books still existed — Officer of United States Navy on the Coast — Board 
sent an Agent to South America — Instructions — Communication from — People 



xiv SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

favorable to his Mission — Opposition from Roman Catholic Bishop — Had to re- 
move his Bibles to save them from the Flames — Sold some in Chili and Peru — ■ 
Joaquin Mosquera — Primary Schools of Bogota — Rev. Mr. Torrey at St. Catha- 
rine's, Brazil — Methodist Missionary Society — Rio Janeiro — Communication from 
Rev. Mr. Spaulding — Portuguese and French Scriptures — Appeal from the Meth- 
odist Missionaries, Rev. Messrs. Kidder and Spaulding, to the Board — Population 
of Brazil — Catholic Priesthood — Opposition to Bible — Rev. Mr. Norris, Methodist 
Missionary — Spanish, Danish, and Italian Scriptures — Bibles sent to a Lady for 
Distribution — Nicaragua, Honduras — Foreign Evangelical Society — American 
Consul — Concluding Remarks Page 180 

BIBLE IN FRANCE. 
France a Republic — The Bible has free Circulation — Great Change in this Re- 
spect — Respect for the Bible — Donation to the American Bible Society from Brit- 
ish and Foreign of Stereotype Plates for French Bible — France one of the first 
foreign Fields occupied by the American Bible Society — Assistance rendered to 
Rev. F. Leo, of Paris, in printing two Stereotype Editions of the New Testament 
— Letter from Dr. Mason to — The Formation of the Protestant Bible Society of 
Paris — Increased Facilities afforded by political Events — Proposition of a benevo- 
lent Gentleman in one of our Cities — Number of Bibles circulated in France in the 
Year 1821 — How accomplished — Number of Protestants in that Country — Grant 
of Money to Protestant Bible Society — Extracts from the Communication of the 
Committee of the French and Foreign Bible Society — Grant of money to — Supply 
of German Immigrants passing through France to America — Number of Auxilia- 
ries of the Protestant Bible Society — Grant of the Board to supply the City of Ly- 
ons and Vicinity with the Scriptures — An additional Grant to enable the Lyons 
Bible Society to procure a Set of Stereotype Plates — Another Grant was made, on 
the Recommendation of the Rev. Robert Baird, D.D., for supplying the Destitute 
in France and Spain — Encouraging Letter from the Secretary of the Lyons Bible 
Society — Number of Bibles circulated in the different Departments of France in 
1840 — Grant to Rev. Mr. Sawtelle of Bibles and Testaments for Circulation in 
Havre — To the Foreign Evangelical Society, under the Direction of Dr. Baird, $500 
— Interesting Letter from — Colporteurs — Swiss Committee — A Million and a Half 
of Bibles sent to France by British and Foreign Bible Society at different times, 
besides large Grants of Money — Agent of British and Foreign Bible Society, M. 
Pressense — Grant to Foreign Evangelical Society — Grant to French and Foreign 
Bible Society — Gratifying Letter from Count de la Borde, one of the Secretaries 
of — Interesting Results among the Catholics of Bible Circulation — Archbishop of 
Toulouse — Revival of a false Accusation — Challenge sent to by a Member of the 
Swiss Committee — Pamphlet published, entitled " Reply to the Circular of the 
Archbishop" — Several Priests left the Church of Rome — Pamphlets published by 
them, entitled " Farewell to Rome" and " The Pope" — Salutary Sensation pro- 
duced — Triumph of the Bible — Priests, Monks, and Nuns engaged as Colporteurs — 
Grant to Foreign Evangelical Society to aid in printing and circulating Scriptures 
in Switzerland — Other Grants to French and Foreign Bible Society — Secretary 
Count de la Borde communicated an Account of the determined and persevering 
Opposition of the Papal Priesthood since the Accession of the new Pope, Pius IX. 
— The Title of Reformer a Misnomer — His Liberalism the Result of Necessity, not 
Choice — Unable to resist the Laws of Progress — ObUged to flee the Papal Chair— 
A Spirit of Inquiry awakened — Grants to the Evangelical Society and French and 
Foreign Bible Society — Letter from one of the Secretaries since the late Revolu- 
tion — Empty Treasury and Depository — A Crisis full of sublime moral Interest — 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. XV 

Liberty gained can only be secured by a National Bible Morality — Rev, Mr. Bridel, 
Delegate to the American Bible Society — His Representation of Condition and 
Wants of France — Interest excited — Resolution to contribute $10,000 during the 
Year — Hotel Gibbon — Voltaire's Declaration concerning the Bible Page 187 

BIBLE IN SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, AND AUSTRIA. 
Earliest Information in regard to Circulation of Scriptures in Spain — Publication 
of the Spanish New Testament among the first Things considered by the Board — 
Want of Ability alone deterred from the Undertaking — Few Copies introduced — 
Distributions through Natives residing in England — Copy of each Edition of Span- 
ish Scriptures sent by Request to Secretary of French and Foreign Bible Society 
— British and Foreign Bible Society sent an Agent into Spain — Rev. Mr. Borrow 
— His " Bible in Spain" — His Travels — Description of Country — Her Inquisition 
— Changed from Butcher to Banker — Wars devastated the Country — Poverty — 
Pope's Cries for Peter Pence — Pope's pastoral Letter — Among the Peasantry a 
Willingness to read the Scriptures — Madrid — Translated and printed the Gospel 
in the Gipsy Language — Imprisoned — Reflections on passing the Court of the 
Prison — Apostrophe to the Pope — Imprisonment resulted in Good — Civil War — 
Communication to the Board from a Protestant Merchant — Openings of Providence 
for Circulation of Scriptures — Box of Spanish Bibles sent — Irreformable Spirit of 
Popery — Policy of Bible Society — Foreign Evangelical Society — Box of Spanish 
Bibles and Testaments — Latest Intelligence — But little accomplished in Italy, Por- 
tugal, Austria, and other Papal Countries — Philo-Italian Society — Increased Cir- 
culation — Correspondent at Rome — Bible freely circulated — Mr. Corderoy — Bible 
Meeting at Lucca — Society formed — Collection of $100 — Request of Inhabitants 
of Sicily for the Scriptures — Correspondent of London Times — Bibles advertised 
for sale in Rome — Austria — Cheering Prospects 195 

BIBLE PROHIBITION IN ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES. 
Facts in relation to — First great Fact — Index Prohibitorum — Decree of Council 
of Trent — Only enforced strictly where Romanism dominant — Austria — Bibles 
prohibited in all Languages — Protestant Tyrolese expatriated — France — Popery a 
dead Tree — Belgium — Bible Distribution suppressed by brute Force — Bishop 
Bruges' Denunciation of Bible Societies — Rome's Effrontery only equaled by her 
Ignorance — Ridiculous Performances on Ascension Day — TJuanimous Consent of 
the Fathers — Proof of priestly Ignorance — Assertion of Dr. Brownlee — Ridiculous 
Assumption — Spain — Bishop of Astorga — Condition on which he might print a 
Spanish Version of the Scriptures — Mr. Borrow's Translation — Italy — Bible con- 
demned — Unknown — Virgin Mary chief Object of Adoration — Sardinia — Twenty- 
four Persons imprisoned for having the Bible in their Possession — Leghorn — Rome 
— Bible a strange and rare Book — Fifteen large Volumes — Roman Church never 
published an Edition of New Testament in Greek — Ireland — Encyclical Letter of 
Leo XII. — Pastoral Address — Archbishop of Tuam — Missionaries at Damascus — 
South and Central America — l3ishop of Quito — West Indies — Boast of a Roman 
Bishop — " Faithful" deprived of the Bible in Protestant as well as Papal Countries 
— Popish Opposition in England — Letter of Rev. Peter Gandolphy to Bishop Marsh 
in 1813 — Sincerity of his Professions — Pretended Catholic Bible Society — Bible- 
burning in Ireland — In the United States — In Canada — Testimony of Macaulay in 
his History of England in regard to Romanism * ♦ 201 



xvi SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

BIBLE IN SANDWICH, WEST INDIA, AND OTHER ISLANDS. 
Word of Prophecy — Isles shall wait for his Law — Sandwich Islands — Attention 
of the Society called to at an early Day — Interest awakened — First Missionaries 
— American Board — Bibles sent — Natives educated at the Mission School, Con- 
necticut — Copies of Scriptures sent to Kings of Owhyhee and Atooi — Bibles for 
Mariners at Sandwich Islands — Gospel of Matthew in Hawaiian Language pub- 
lished by Society — Mr. Loomis — Request of the Rulers to have the entire Bible in 
the Hawaiian Tongue — No Prejudices against the Word of God — Board received 
a Box of Slavonian New Testaments from St. Petersburg for Russian Ships — Let- 
ter from Rev. Mr. Knill of St. Petersburg — Letter from the Islands — Prospects of 
Success — Grant of $5000 — Number of Missionaries on the Islands — Number of 
Natives able to read — Grant of Money to American Board — Communication from 
the Missionaries — Progress in translating and printing the Scriptures — Letter from 
one of the Missionaries — Glorious Revival of Religion — Number of regular Hear- 
ers — Number of Copies of New Testament pubUshed — Another Grant of Money by 
the Board — Still further Assistance toward publishing the Hawaiian Scriptures — 
Completion of the Translation of the entire Bible — Manuscript examined by the 
Board — Number of Communicants in eighteen Churches — Number of Pupils con- 
nected with the Common Schools — Number of Readers — Two Editions of New 
Testament published — Forcible Establishment of French Papal Missionaries — 
Grant to Chaplain of Seamen's Friend Society — $10,000 appropriated by the Board 
— Hawaiian Bible Society auxiliary to American Bible Society — Additional Grant 
of Money — Statement of the Nature and Extent of Operations of Hawaiian Bible 
Society — Laws of the Islands based upon the Bible — Grant of Money — Increased 
Interest in the Circulation of the Scriptures — Additional Grant — Bible Society one 
of Efficiency and System — Letters expected — West India and other Islands — Bi- 
bles sent to Trinidad and Santa Croix — St. Martin's and Porto Praya — Portuguese 
Scriptures from British and Foreign Bible Society — Immigrants to the Island of 
Hayti supplied by the New York Bible Society — Bibles for Use of Schools — An- 
tigua — Spanish Scriptures sent to Cuba — Spanish and French Bibles to Hayti — 
Matanzas and Port au Platte — Supply sent to a religious Captain of a Vessel at 
Aux Cayes — Mr.Wainwright, of Port au Prince — Colony near Baracao — Bahama 
Islands — Portioned out to the Inhabitants of — Providence, Turk's Island, Rum 
Key, Wolling's Sound, Exuma, Grand Bahama, and Andros Island — Danish Isl- 
ands — Letter from Dr. M'Elroy — Schools established at Santa Cruz — Planters re- 
quired by Law to send their young Slaves to — Sabbath Schools — Gentlemen and 
Ladies of first Respectability Teachers — Destitution of the Scriptures — Grant of 
Bibles to a Gentleman and Lady at St. Croix — Rev. Mr. Hanson, a Protestant 
Episcopal Minister at Key West — Island of St. Thomas — Wesleyan Missionary at 
Hayti — Bibles sent to for Distribution — Rev. Mr. Brett, of Reformed Dutch Church, 
at St. Thomas — Portuguese Testaments sent to Mr. Dabney for Distribution at the 
Azore Islands — Key West, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Cuba — For Use of the Slave 
Population at St. Croix — Missionary of Reformed Presbyterian Church — Mission 
at Hayti — Grant to the Bahama Bible Society ' Page 211 

BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 
Name of China, whence derived — Extravagant Notions of Chinese — Extent of 
the Country — Population — Form of Government — A Missionary Field — Christian 
Mission to from Syria, 637 — Bible translated into the Chinese Language by Prime 
Minister of the Emperor — Prevalence of Christianity — Professor Lassar, of Anglo- 
Hindoo College — Translation of the Gospel of Matthew — Translation of the four 
Gospels by — Translation by Dr. Marshman, elder Pupil of Mr. Lassar — Operations 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xvii 

of British and Foreign and American Bible Societies — Letter from Dr. Morrison at 
Canton — Free Circulation of Scriptures impracticable — Whole Bible printed in 
Chinese from a Translation of Drs. Morrison and Milne — Communication from 
Rev. Mr. Bridgman at Canton — Great Changes had taken place favorable to the 
Circulation of the Scriptures — Tw^o Editions of the Bible, three of New Testa- 
ment, and four of Psalms put in circulation — Number of — Chinese a reading Peo- 
ple — In this Respect superior to any Pagan Nation — Thousands accessible — No 
one Language in the World in w^hich Bible could be read by so many Millions — 
Survey of the Field — Third Part of the Human Family — Labors and Tours of 
GutzlafF — Siam and Southern China — Appropriation by the Board of $3000 — Let- 
ter from the Mission in Canton — Leang Afa, a Convert from Paganism — Bible Dis- 
tributer — Students and Literati — Present to the King in Corea of twenty-one Vol- 
umes of the Scriptures — Cheteang — Chusa Islands — Fokin Province — Eagerness 
of the Inhabitants for the Scriptures — A Work against the three Superstitions of 
China by Gutzlaff — Letter from Mr. Bridgman, Missionary at Canton — Printing 
of Chinese Bible at Malacca — Missionary Ship — Letter from Leang Afa — Letter 
from Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff — Bible Distribution — New Edition — Beautiful Allegory — 
The Bible the greatest Missionary — Revision of the Scriptures — Grant to Baptist 
Board, $1000 — American Board, $500 — For Transportation and Distribution, 
$1000 — Protestant Episcopal — American and Foreign — In all, $12,000 — Prepara- 
tion of the New Testament in Japanese — Difference of Opinion among Missiona- 
ries in regard to the New Version — British and Foreign Bible Society withdrew 
its Patronage — American Bible Society postponed its Decision — Rev. Mr. Rottger, 
Dutch Missionary at Rio — Scene in a Temple — Gloomy Prospects in China — 
Causes of— Encouraging Letter from Gutzlaff — Visit to Macao — Union of the 
Missionaries in regard to new Translation — Meeting at Hong Kong — Proceedings 
of — Names of Members — Discussion on State of Chinese Version — Resolution — 
Adjourned Meeting — Resolutions in regard to Translation — Fourth Meeting — 
Resolutions in regard to the Greek Word /3a7Tri^(j and its Derivatives — Names of 
the Deity — Scripture Names — All Protestant Missionaries a general Committee — 
Subdivision — Stations — Work to be submitted to Bible Societies of Great Britain 
and United States — Mr. Medhurst Secretary to General Committee — Bible Socie- 
ties bear the Expense — Work divided — Report of a Committee on (SaiTTL^o) — Res- 
olution — Last Meeting — Resolution in regard to Name of God — Chinese Youth 
at Hong Kong learning English — Appropriation of $10,000 for circulating the 
new Version about to be issued — Appropriation from British and Foreign Bible 
Society for Cylinder Press for printing new Version — Dr. Milne — Gates of China 
open — Sixty Missionaries — Conclusion Page 219 

BIBLE IN INDIA AND INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES. 

Antiquity of India — Country, when known to Europe — Extent of — Population 
— Number of Europeans — Possessions in India — A Missionary Field — Visited by 
Apostles — Traditions and Monuments — St. Thomas — His Estimation of the Sav- 
ior's Commission — India interesting to the Philosopher — Dr. Henry's Opinion of 
the Philosophy of — Traces of philosophical Development on a large Scale — Spec- 
ulations not the Design of this History — Facts pertaining to religious Condition 
of the Country — Dark Picture — Men by Philosophy can not be made acquainted 
with God. 

Chin-India. — Description of — Identity of Language and Manners with China 
and India Proper — Interesting Points — Birmah — Baptist Brethren — Malacca, the 
Ophir of the Old Testament — Burial-place of Milne — Labors of — Anglo-Chinese 
College — Introduction of the Bible into China — College of Fort William at Bengal 

A 



xviii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

t 

—Translation of the Scriptures — Oriental Literature — First Protestant Mission at 
Tranquebar — Translation of the Bible into Tamul Language — Bible Societies at 
Calcutta, Serampore, Bombay, and Madras — Operation of in circulating Scriptures 
— Report of Secretary from — Masses at Mirzapore soliciting the Scriptures — Com- 
munication from Drs. Carey and Marshman — Scriptures published in five of the 
Languages of India — ^New Testament and Parts of the Old in ten, the New Testa- 
ment alone in six more — Remaining ten some one of the Gospels — Expense de- 
frayed by the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies — $1000 to prepare 
the Scriptures in Sanscrit, Bengalee, Hindee, Mahratta, and Orissa Languages — 
Report of British and Foreign Bible Society — Bible circulated in thirty Languages 
of India — Anglo-Chinese, Tamul, Goojurattu, Cingalese, and Pali Languages — The 
latter the Language of the Literati of Birmah — Singapore — Grant of $1200 to print 
Judson's Translation of the New Testament in Burmese — Access to 17,000,000 in 
that Language — Appropriation to American Board for Scriptures in India, $5000 
— An additional Grant of $5000 — Translations in the Mahratta Language — Con- 
formity of Versions to English Version — One in forty of Mahratta People able to 
read — Four hundred thousand Readers — Grant of $3000 — Burman Empire, $5000 
— Interesting Items in regard to Circulation of the Scriptures — Eleven Missionaries 
among Mahrattas — Population 12,000,000 — Schools — Bible read in — Cheering In- 
telligence from Birmah — Baptist Board at Maulmein — Mr. Kincaid's Voyage up 
the Irrawaddy River — Grant to Western Foreign Missionary Society at Pittsburg 
for Missionaries in Northern India, $500 — To Baptist Missions in Burman Em- 
pire a Grant of $7000 — Old Testament in course of PubUcation — Bible among Sea- 
men in Singapore — To various Boards, $17,000 — Letter from Rev. Amos Sutton 
— Description of a Festival — 100,000 before the bloody Moloch — Letter from Rev. 
Messrs. Scudder and Winslow — Tamul Language — 500,000 able to read — Zeloo- 
goo Language — Prospect of an entire Copy of the Bible in Mahratta — Letter from 
Missionary at Madras — Inhabitants can not be reached by the oral Word — An Ap- 
propriation of $4000 — Encouraging Prospects in Madras — Land open in all its 
Length and Breadth — 75,000,000 accessible — Government favorable — In all Places 
People come in Crowds to get the Scriptures — Distributions — $20,000 a Year ask- 
ed from the American Bible Society — Bazars in Madura — Visited by Distributers 
—Grant of $2000— To the Station at Madras, $7000— Population of the City of 
Bombay — Character of— -Mahratta Language — Scriptures in Hebrew and Parses 
— Condition of the Jews — Followers of Zoroaster — Translation of Paine's Age of 
Reason — Doctrines of Zoroaster — Selections from Voltaire — British Possessions 
between India and Persia — Grant of English Bibles and Testaments for those learn- 
ing that Language at Madras— $2000 to the Presbyterian Board for Northern In- 
dia — Letter from Secretary of the Board, Walter Lowrie, Esq. — Printing Presses 
in India — Unable to supply the Demands — Rev. Mr. Sutton, Baptist Mission at 
Orissa, a Grant of $100 — Bibles on request of Walter Lowrie, Esq. — Tamul Scrip- 
tures through Rev. Mr. Winslow, at Madras, to Rev. Mr. Heyer, a Missionary of 
the Lutheran Church — Publishing Scriptures in Lodiana, Northern India, $3000 
■ — Samples furnished — Mission Station at Madras — Distribution in Southern India, 
$3500 — Bombay, $1000 — Bible Distribution among Hindoos, Mussulmans, and 
Jews — Tour of Mr. Hume, Secretary of Bombay Bible Society, to Goa — Residence 
of Roman Catholic Archbishop — Buchanan's Description of— Present Condition 
— Ruins of the Inquisition — Missionaries at Siam, $1000 — Letter from Rev. Mr. 
Robinson — Indo-Chinese Languages — Grant for Madura, $1500 — Presbyterian 
Board, $7000— Description of Bombay— Its Inhabitants— Editors of City Papers 
— Infidel Publications — Conclusion Pao-e 233 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xix 

• 

BIBLE IN CEYLON. 
Extent of the Island — Population — Taken possession of by the Portuguese in the 
sixteenth Century — Dutch — Ceded to the British in 1795 — Native Inhabitants — 
Relio-ion of — Early Efforts to convert it to Christianity — St. Jerome's Statement — 
Missionary Cause compared with Bible for saving Sinners — History of the Intro- 
duction of Christianity into the Island — Francis Xavier — Romanism was establish- 
ed there when first visited by Protestants — Dutch attempted to convert the Natives 
to Protestantism perhaps earlier than the Catholics — Corrupt Form of Protestant- 
ism — Absurd Ordinance of — Unhappy Results — Number of Members — Moravian 
Missionaries — Their Reception — Subsequently ordered from the Island — Labors 
of not without Fruit — Rev. Dr. Coke, in company with Messrs. Harvard, Clough, 
and others, set out from England as Missionaries to — Dr. Coke died on the Pas- 
sage — Was buried in the Indian Ocean — Remainder reached the Island — Cordial- 
ly received — Their Success — Established the first Sunday School in Ceylon — 
Prudential Committee of the American Board sent out Messrs. Richards, Warren, 
Poor, Meigs, and Bardwell — Reception by the Governor — This Mission most suc- 
cessful — Established a College at Battacotta for the Education of pious young Na- 
tives for the Ministry — Mission of English Baptists — Ceylon an interesting Bible 
Field — Bible Society at Colombo — Jaffna Bible Society — American Bible Society 
made to American Board a Donation of $5000 for purchase of Scriptures in Tamuj 
Language — Translation of the Scriptures into the Cingalese Language — Nuniber 
that spoke that Language — Eight or ten Editions — American Missionaries — Great 
Demand for Scriptures — Facilities for Distribution — Grant of $500 — At another 
Time $500 — English Bibles for Use of Pupils — Prudential Committee — InteUigence 
in regard to Circulation of the Scriptures — Number that speak Tamul Language — 
Coromandel Coast — Printing Press — Demand for the Scriptures — Grant to Mis- 
sionaries, $2000 — Letters from asking for Printing Paper — Between four and five 
thousand Children under Christian Instruction — Should be supplied — Great Im- 
portance of Bible to — Grant of $6000 — American Board for Use of Schools, $2000 
— Bibles in the English Tongue — Tamul and Cingalese Scriptures — Report of Jaff- 
na Bible Society — Number of Copies of Scriptures printed — American Board — . 
American Bible Society — Portions of Bible printed — Grant to American Board for 
printing Tamul Scriptures, $4000 — Rev. Mr. Johnson, an English Episcopal Mis- 
sionary — Communication from in regard to Efforts to secure a faithful Version of 
Tamul Scriptures — Number of English Readers vastly increased — The Bible the 
Text-book-— Not a Copy of the whole Bible in their Depository — Cries from Ma- 
dura for Bibles — Missionaries a grant of $3000 — English Bibles for Use of Schools 
— Thousands of heathen Youth becoming acquainted with English Language by 
reading the Bible — Additional Grant — For publishing new Version of Scriptures 
in Tamul Language, $1000 — Island made to bud and blossom as the Rose — Word 
of God effectual Page 250 

BIBLE IN AFRICA. 
Immense Country — Population — Its Condition — Once the Center of Learning — 
Mohammedanism — Its Extent — Bible and Christianity, when introduced — Day of 
Pentecost — Ethiopian Eunuch — Establishment of the Abyssinian Church — First 
Translation of the Bible made at Alexandria into Hellenistic Greek — Destruction 
of Alexandrian Library — Bible Societies at Sierra Leone, Cape of Good Hope, and 
Abyssinia in 1820 — Translation into Amharic Language for Abyssinians — Distri- 
butions of Sierra Leone Bible Society — Hottentots taught to read the Bible— In- 
teresting Facts in relation to the Languages of Africa — Translations in Ethiopic, 
Coptic, and Arabic — Grant of American Bible Society to Colony at Liberia — Pres- 



XX SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

ents of Copies to African Kings — Translation into Madagasse for Island of Mada- 
gascar — Wesleyan Missionary at Cape Town — Circulation of Scriptures in Schools 
— Good Effects — Dr. Philip and Rev. Mr. Read's Visit to London — Addresses of 
Caffre Chief and Christian Hottentot — Effect of Bible upon — Rev. J. L. Wilson, 
Missionaryat Cape Palmas — Translation into the Grebo Tongue, $1000 — Another 
Grant of $300 — Bible Societies at Sierra Leone, Cape Town, and other Places — - 
Increasing Interest — Jews at Tunis — Letter from Wesleyan Missionary in South 
Africa — Monthly Magazine in the Caffre Language — American Board Grant of Bi- 
bles — Translation into Grebo Tongue by Rev. Mr. Payne, Episcopal Missionary in 
Western Africa — Published by the Society — Rev. Mr. Moffat, Missionary to the 
Bechuanas — Usefulness of the written Word verified — Testimony of a Native Con- 
vert — Africa the most wretched and hopeless of all Portions of heathen World — A 
hundred fold more has been done for one Island than for Africa — Mills and Cox 
sleep in Africa — Dr. Chalmers's sublime Spectacle surpassed in her Condition and 
Prospects Page 257 

BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 
Countries to which the Term specifically applies — Holy Ground — Angel with 
everlasting Gospel to preach — Reintroduction of the Bible into Countries where 
first written — The Reader conducted to Ancient Sites of Places where Divine 
Light first shone — The public reading of the Scriptures in the Days of Ezra — Ef- 
fect upon the Audience — Manuscript Copies of the Septuagint in Synagogues of 
the Jews — Few to be found — Living Oracles, like exiled Jews, returning to their 
native Land — Circulation of Scriptures in ancient Bible Lands by London Mission- 
ary Society in 1811 — Mr. Bloomfield sent by Society to Malta — Church Missiona- 
ry Society — Rev. Mr. Jowett — American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 
sions — Mission to benefit the mingled Inhabitants of the Holy Land— Society sent 
printing Establishments — Fonts of Type for printing English, Italian, Greek, Gre- 
co-Turkish, Armenian, Armeno-Turkish, and Arabic — Malta an Emporium for Bi- 
ble and Missionary Operations — The Key by which all the Doors in the East could 
be unlocked — Description of its Advantages — London Jews' Society — Wesleyan 
Methodist Missionary Society — Malta Bible Society — Translation of Scriptures into 
Greek — Report of Distribution in various Languages — Aleppo — Translation of 
modern Greek Testament — Translation into the Albanian Language — Interesting 
Letter from Rev. Pliny Fisk — Smyrna, Teos, Vourla, Scio, Ephesus, and Tenedos — 
Number of Copies issued by Malta Bible Society — Where sent — Turkish Bible in 
Press — Modern Armenian translated — Egypt — Coptic Church in favor of Bible 
Society — Palestine — Ionian Bible Society — Suffering Greeks — Bible prohibited by 
the Firman of the Grand Seignior — Extensive Circulation at different Places — 
Persian Language — Operations of the American Bible Society — Visit of the Rev. 
Jonas King to Palestine — Board granted $1500 to supply him with Greek Scrip- 
tures — Great Sympathy at that Time in this Country in behalf of Greeks — Prot- 
estant Episcopal Church, $500 — Interesting Letter from Mr. King — Great Demand 
for the Scriptures — Accounts from Messrs. King and Robertson — Authorized to 
purchase Bibles from British and Foreign Bible Society — Circulation of Scriptures 
in Turkish Empire — Letter from Rev. Mr. Brewer, dated Isle of Patmos — Appeal 
in behalf of the Seven Churches of Asia — Missions in Mediterranean, $2000 — 
Death of Professor Greenfield — His Labors — Letter to Dr. Brigham — Translation 
of the Old Testament into Armeno-Turkish by Bishop Carabet — Grants — Commu- 
nication from Rev. Mr. Schauffler, Missionary to the Jews at Constantinople — 
Condition of in Ottoman Empire — Scriptures in Hebrew and Hebrew-Spanish — 
Psalms most desirable Book to the Jews — $1000 to print Mr. Schaufl^er's Trcnsla- 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xxi 

tion — $800 for Arabic Sriptures — Rev. Mr. Perkins — Syriac Scriptures — Nestori- 
ans in Persia — Rev. Dr. King, Greece — Supply of Scriptures — Demand for increas- 
ing — Authorized by the Society to employ a native Agent — Damianos — Rev. Mr. 
Hill, Protestant Episcopal Missionary, Athens — American Board two Grants, $5500 
— Appointment of Rev. S. H. Calhoun, Agent of American Bible Society for the 
Levant — Reception by Missionaries at Smyrna — Hebrew-Spanish — Missionaries 
at Constantinople — Arabic Scriptures in Schools, $500 — Letter from Rev. Mr. 
Thompson — Supply of Pilgrims at Jerusalem — Must have the Bible, no Hope from 
Missionaries — Mosul — Condition of the Churches around — Nestorian Christians 
in Persia — Condition of — Letter from Mr. Calhoun — Rev. Mr. Whiting, Missionary 
at Jerusalem — Rev. Mr. Love, Baptist Missionary at Patras — Dr. Grant, of the 
Ooroomiah Mission, Persia — Not one complete Copy of the Bible in the Nestorian 
Character — Singular Mode of Reading— Communications from Society's Agent in 
regard to Circulation of Scriptures in different Languages — Colonists of Southern 
Russia — Discussion in Athens — Patras — Athens and numerous other Places — 
Visit to Egypt — American Consul at Alexandria — Island of Cyprus — Hebrew- 
Spanish Old Testament at Vienna published by Mr. Schauffler, $6000 — Dr. Grant — 
Appropriations for Levant, $2400 — Rabbis at Constantinople — Certificate of Chief 
Rabbi recommending the Bible — Armeno-Turkish Old Testament — Laborious Vv''ork 
— Accomplished by Rev. Mr. G<)odell — Reflections of on finishing — Interesting 
Letter from Society's Agent in regard to the Field of his Labor — Arabic Testament 
— Modern Greek — Levant, $5000 — New Testament in German, with Psalm^ — 
Queen of Hungary a Distributor of — Scriptures in Levant published by Society — 
Letter from Dr. Goodell — Reviews his Labors — Importance of the Bible to Mis- 
sionary — Levant, $8145 — Interesting Account from Bible Distributers sent by 
Agent — Baptist Board — Dr. Perkins's New Testament in Syriac — American Board, 
$1000 — Levant, $5000 — Mr. Calhoun closes his Agency — Statements in his last 
Letter — Scriptures published — New Edition of Hebrew-Spanish Scriptures, 
$10,000 — Hebrew-German — Modern Armenian — Modern Syriac, $1000 — Amer- 
ican Board, $2500 — Scriptures in Turkey, $5000 — Encouraging Letter from a 
Committee of Missionaries in Turkey Page 265 

BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 
A Bible Society established at an early Day — Fraternal Correspondence with 
American Bible Society — Copy of its Reports and Copies of Bibles published in 
different Languages received by the Board from — Patronized by the Emperor and 
Nobility — Five Years younger than British and Foreign Bible Society — Extensive 
Usefulness contrasted with — Circulated the Scriptures in forty-six different Lan- 
guages — Original Design — Bible Press silenced by an Imperial Ukase — Two hund- 
red and eighty-nine Auxiliaries — Prohibition did not extend to Sale and Distribu- 
tion of Bibles — Nor the Existence of Bible Societies — Bible Society organized at 
St. Petersburg — Furnished with Bibles by British and Foreign Bible Society — 
Grant of the Board, $300 — William Ropes, Esq. — Letter from Pastor Malenburg 
— Destitution — Society obtained Protection of Government — To W^illiam Ropes, 
Esq., and Associates, $1000 — Scriptures purchased by two Ladies for Distribution 
in Russia — Communication from Messrs. Brown and Ropes — Inquiries of different 
Pastors in regard to Destitution — Grant of $1500 — Interesting Letters from Pastors 
in regard to Destitution in Parishes — Grants of Money and Bibles — Messrs. Ropes 
and Gilibrand, for Circulation of Bibles in Finland, $1000 — Committee at St. Pe- 
tersburg, $1000— Sweden, $1500— Committee, $1000— Forty thousand destitute 
Families supplied— Grant of $2000- Interesting Report of Committee— 13,000 
Bibles distributed — Additional Distributions — Concluding Remarks 287 



xxii SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 

AN APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE BIBLE. 
Importance of the Bible as a Source of Instruction contrasted with the Oracles 
of Heathenism — The Word of God not the less Valuable because common to all — 
The distinguishing Privileges of the Jewish Nation — The wonderful Preservation 
of the Scriptures — Coincidence of Prophecy and Fact — The Duty of those who pos- 
sess and appreciate the Bible — Nature of true Christian Charity — Duty to God re- 
quires the Communication of Blessings we enjoy— The Blessedness of giving to 
the Lord — Incredulity of the World in regard to the real Destitution of the Holy 
Scriptures — Reasons for — Facts in relation to Bible Destitution in this Country — 
Resolution to supply the United States in two Years — Work done in two Years — 
Results of subsequent Explorations — Destitution increases instead of being lessen- 
ed — Reasons for — Families in Massachusetts without the Bible — New York — Jef- 
ferson County — Remarkable Facts brought to Light in regard to — Indication of 
Duty — Virginia — Great Destitution in Western Part of the State — One Half of 
the Families without the Bible — Ohio — One Fifth of the Families destitute — Coun- 
ty of Clermont — Number of Protestant Families now destitute in the United States 
— Mission of the Society will never expire — Increase of Population — Calculation 
in regard to — The entire World has Claims upon us — Signs of the Times — Every 
Heathen Country open to the Bible — Propriety of increased Liberality on the Part 
of the Friends of the Bible — Desire awakened in all Lands — Importance of the 
Missionary Enterprise — The Bible the Leading Star in the World's Conversion — 
Missionary could do nothing without the Bible — Its paramount Claims — Traveler 
at a Fountain — Invitation of the Gospel — Broad and mighty River opened by the 
Bible, dispensing Blessings to every Land Page 292 

BENEFACTORS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Interest early awakened — Benefactors — Hon. Elias Boudinot — Others — Mr. Ab- 
ner M'Gehee 301 

AGENCIES. 
The Appointment of Agents early elicited the Attention of the Board — Labored 
hard to dispense with them — Last Resort — Importance of — Appointment of an 
Auxiliary Committee — Duties of — Instructed to make Inquiry in regard to suitable 
Persons to act as Agents — Annals of the British and Foreign Bible Society — Agents 
appointed — Organization of Auxiliaries — Importance of demonstrated — Selected 
from the different Evangelical Churches represented in the Board — Appointed by 
Agency Committee — Instructions of Committee to Agents — What expected of 
them — Appointment of foreign Agents 307 

AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 
Circular of the Managers, inclosing a Plan for Auxiliary and Branch Societies 
— Circular to the Clergy — To Individuals — Constitution of an Auxiliary — Consti- 
tution of a Branch — Local Societies having an anterior Existence became Auxil- 
iary — Conditions required of Auxiliaries — An Auxiliary Committee appointed — Its 
Duties and Prerogatives — Fallacy of relying upon Correspondence alone to secure 
the Action of Auxiliaries — Committee recommend the appointment of Agents — 
Condition of many of the Auxiliaries — Honorable Exceptions — Importance of 
Auxiliaries — Number of Auxiliaries and Branches — Composed of different religious 
Denominations — Equal Benefits to all — Condition on which Auxiliaries are entitled 
to procure Bibles — Rule as to re-sale — Annual Report furnished to gratuitously — 
Bible Society Record — Advantage of to the Societies — Female Bible Societies — 
College Bible Societies — Marine — Young Men's — Bible Committees — Zeal and Be- 



SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. xxiii 

nevolence of the Ladies — Propriety of separate Organization — Testimony of Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society in behalf of these Associations — Female Bible Soci- 
ety of New York — Its Operations — Interesting Facts Page 319 

LEGACIES. 
Evidence of the Value placed upon the Society — Testimony from Living and Dy- 
ing Witnesses — First Legacies made — Amount from Organization of the Society 
to 1821 — Hon. Ehas Boudinot, LL.D. — Mr. John Withington — Amount of Legacies 
in 1823 — Samuel Sheldon, 1824 — Mr. Matthew^ Benschoten, Mrs. Lydia Dixon, Mr. 
Joseph Fletcher, 1825 — 1826, Mrs. Campbell, Mr. Daniel Burger, James Thompson, 
Esq., Dr. EUas Havs^es — 1827, Othniel Smith, Mrs. Isabella Smith, Mr. Thomas Hen- 
derson — 1828, one thousand nine hundred and ten Dollars — 1829, two hundred and 
nine Dollars— 1830, 1831, 1832, 1833, 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1840, 
1841, 1842, 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846, 1847, 1848, 1849, 1850, 1851, 1852, 1853, 
1854, 1855 327 

RECEIPTS OF THE SOCIETY. 
Table of — From all Sources — Sales of Books — Donations — Legacies — Life Mem- 
berships — Life Directorships — From Organization to present Time — Grants of 
Money 358 

BIBLE SOCIETY RECORD. 
Importance of an Organ of the Society — Board authorized the publication of the 
"Quarterly Extracts" in 1819 — Good Effects of the Measure — Superseded in 1821 
by the "Monthly" half Sheet — Semi-monthly "Bible Society Record" — Editor, 
Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., Corresponding Secretary — Contents of Record — Joseph 
Hyde, Esq. — Issued gratuitously — Productive of great Good — Sought after with 
Eagerness by the Friends of the Cause 361 

BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 

By-law of the Board in regard to — Object to collect Books tending to throw 

Light upon the Bible — Ministers of all Denominations have access to — Interchange 

kept up with the different Bible Societies of the World — Extent of the Library — 

But the Nucleus of — Catalogue of Books 363 

LIFE DIRECTORS AND LIFE MEMBERS. 
Terms of Life Directorship — Of Life Membership — Number of Life Directors 
and Life Members — Privileges of — Design of the Board in adopting the Rule in 
relation to — Churches — Tribute of Respect to Pastors 383 

TABLE OF LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS. 
Versions — What printed — Wliere circulated, or for whom designed 385 

ORGANIZATION OF BIBLE SOCIETIES. 
Date of the Organization of Bible Societies in different Parts of the World — 
Number of Copies of Scriptures issued 392 



xxiv SUMMARY OF CONTENTS. 



APPENDIX. 

CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, &c. 
Letters from the Hon. Elias Boudinot, President of the American Bible Society 
— Letter from the Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society — From Prince 
Galitzin, President of the Russian Bible Society — From the Secretaries of the 
Hamburg and Altona Bible Societies — Extract from Address of Prince Galitzin — 
Letter from one of the Secretaries of the Protestant Bible Society, Paris — Extract 
from Letter of Hon. Bushrod Washington — Letter from Secretary of the Navy — 
Tribute of the Board to Memory of Hon. Elias Boudinot — -Letter from President of 
British and Foreign Bible Society — From Librarian of same — Address of Hon. 
John Jay, President of American Bible Society — Letter from Rev. John Summer- 
field — Letter from Baron de Stael, Secretary of Protestant Bible Society, Paris — 
From the Rev. Dr. Morrison — From Foreign Secretary of British and Foreign Bi- 
ble Society — From President of Swedish Bible Society — Proceedings of British and 
Foreign Bible Society — Letter to Dr. Brigham — Communication of Dr. Plumer on 
supplying the World with Bible — Dissolution of Methodist Bible Society — Extract 
from Discourse on Funeral of John Nitchie, Esq. — Address of President Hon. John 
Cotton Smith — Sketch of Life of 6eneral Van Rensselaer, by Dr. Vermilye — Let- 
ter from Hon. John Quincy Adams — From J. J. Gumey — From Bishop Waugh — 
From Hon. Judge M'Lean — Death of Count Ver Huell — Co-operation of Methodist 
Episcopal Church South — Address of Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen — Death of Hon. 
J. Q. Adams — Death of Rev. Dr. Levings — Resolutions of Young Men's Bible So- 
ciety of Cincinnati on — Notices of Death of Alexander Henry, Peter G. Stuyvesant, 
and John Aspinwall, Esqs Page 395 

ANNIVERSARIES— ADDRESSES. 
Time of holding Annual Meetings — Exercises — Semi-annual Meeting at Cincin- 
nati — Addresses — Similar Meeting at Washington City — Richmond and Raleigh — 
Anniversary Address by Rev. Robert J. Breckenridge, D.D., The Use of the Scrip- 
tures in Common Schools — Dr. Milnor — Professor Greenleafs Letter on the Intro- 
duction of Bible into Common Schools — Rev. Dr. Newton, England, The Facilities 
for Circulating the Scriptures in all Languages — Rev. Thomas Brainerd, The Cir- 
culation of the entire Bible — Rev. Dr. Tyng, Bible Destitution, a Reason for in- 
creased Circulation — Hon. B. F Butler, The Bible, the great Moral Renovator of 
our Race — Rev. Dr. Bethune, Demand for the Scriptures in foreign Countries — 
Rev. Dr. Olin, Unity and Catholicity of the Bible Cause — Rev. Dr. Johns, Inspira- 
tion of the Scriptures, their Sufficiency as a Rule of Faith — Rev. Dr. Cheever, Im- 
portance of the Written Word — Rev. Dr. Pierce, of Georgia, Universal Adaptation 
of the Scriptures— Rev. Dr. De Witt, Union of Effijrt in the Bible Cause — Rev. Dr. 
Parker, Pacific Tendencies of the Bible— Address of Rev. Mr. Bridel— Rev. Dr. 
Kirk, Demands of France upon our Sympathy and Aid 445 



INTRODUCTION. 



We live in an eventful age. In a single year 
changes have taken place in the political and relig- 
ious condition of the nations of Europe which one 
would think a half century could not have effected. 
The wise ohserver of " the signs of the times" can not 
fail to recognize, in the revolutions which have oc- 
curred, the hand of Him who is " head over all things 
to the Church ;" nor to perceive, from the present as- 
pect of things in Europe, that we have seen but the 
beginning. Indeed, there has been, especially within 
the last thirty years or more, a rapid preparation of 
the world for the millennial day. Every important 
change in the political world has evidently tended 
that way ; while, through the instrumentality of the 
Chm'ch, in her different branches, a vast moral ma- 
chinery has been preparing, which, under the Divine 
blessing, will pour the light of the Gospel upon all 
nations. By the political changes effected within a 
few years, the way has been opened for the promul- 
gation of the Gospel in almost every nation on the 
globe, while the different evangelical denominations 
have organized their Missionary Boards, and taken 
their stand side by side in the conflict between light 
and darkness. At the same time, guided and in- 
fluenced by the Spirit of God, they have thrown them- 
selves as into one body, that with their united wealth 
and talents they may place the Bible, without note 
or comment, in the hands of every individual of our 
ruined race. 

This is a glorious enterprise ! Reasoning simply as 



^^Yl INTRODUCTION. 

philosophers, we can not but conclude that the great 
cause of human degradation and misery, in all ages, 
has been human depravity. Men have been sinful, 
and, therefore, degraded and miserable — " hateful and 
hating one another." All schemes, therefore, for ele- 
vating men and improving their condition, which do 
not contemplate, as the first and chief thing to be 
done, their moral purification, are unphilosophical and 
worthless. Society is composed of families, and fami- 
lies of individuals. Improve the moral character of 
individuals, and families will be virtuous and happy; 
and the divine declaration will be illustrated and con- 
firmed, that " righteousness exalteth a nation." 

But how shall the moral character of men be im- 
proved ? They must understand their relations, their 
duties, and the motives which urge and encourage to 
virtue. Where shall we find a perfect authoritative 
moral code, with every possible motive to virtue and 
holy living ? In the Bible we have such a code. No 
crime was ever committed which it does not directly 
or indirectly forbid and condemn ; no virtue ever adorn- 
ed the human character which it does not require and 
commend ; and no motive can be presented in favor 
of righteousness which is not presented in its fullest 
power in the Gospel of Christ. Vv ith it the man of 
Grod is "thoroughly furnished to all good works." Let 
the authority of the Bible become supreme in every 
mind, and the ten thousand fountains of human 
wretchedness, by which this world has become "a 
vale of tears," will be dried up. 

This is not mere theory. The history of the world 
confirms abundantly all we have said. We live in 
the middle of the nineteenth century, in an age con- 
sidered pre-eminently enlightened, where the arts and 
sciences are cultivated with astonishing success. Now 
take a survey of the nations which people our globe. 



INTRODUCTION. XXvii 

Carefully inquire into the true condition of the masses 
of the people, and then answer the two following ques- 
tions, viz. : 1. Has the world made one step of progress 
in education, in morals, in the principles of liberty, 
except so far as it has been brought under the in- 
fluence, direct or indirect, of Christianity ? Is the 
superstition of India and of China less degrading, and 
is the moral and social condition of the people a whit 
better than ten centuries ago ? 2. Is not the improve- 
ment in the condition of the more enlightened nations 
precisely in proportion to the extent to which they 
have been brought under the influence of Christianity 
in its purity? How else shall we account for the 
happy condition of Protestant countries as compared 
with that of France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, 
&c.? 

The enterprise in which the American Bible Society 
and her sister societies are engaged, we repeat, is a 
glorious one. It is so, even if we confine our views 
of its happy results to the present world. How much 
more glorious does it appear when we regard the 
Bible as the clear light given by a merciful God to 
guide immortal beings to eternal felicity — as ''the 
power of God to salvation to every one that believeth." 
Without it our origin, our duty, and our destiny are 
ahke involved in impenetrable darkness ; and our 
minds, formed for immortality, are destined to pine in 
hopeless gloom, and leave the world in despair. In 
its sacred pages life and immortality are brought to 
light; and even in the midst of the troubles of this life, 
we have from God himself the exhortation, "Rejoice 
evermore." 

It is a matter of peculiar interest to see the difierent 
denominations of Christians harmoniously uniting in 
this noble enterprise. False philosophy may, as often 
it has done, pervert the language of inspiration. Prej- 



XXViii INTRODUCTION. 

udice, and the blending influence of remaining de- 
pravity in the Church, may lead to the misinterprieta- 
tion of its plain teachings. Various causes combining 
may, for a time, greatly obscure its celestial light. 
But all are agreed, happily, that it is the lamp to our 
feet, the light to our path. We may have erred in 
our interpretation of some portions of it; but, un- 
trammeled by human traditions and by the fiction of 
church infallibility, we may go again and again to the 
unerring guide, and there correct previous errors. And 
as in these latter days the Holy Spirit shall be more 
abundantly poured upon the Church, and the standard 
of true piety shall rise higher and higher, the spirit- 
ual vision of the servants of God v^^ill become clearer, 
the watchmen on the walls of Zion shall see eye to 
eye, minor differences will gradually disappear, until 
the different branches of the Church shall mingle har- 
moniously together, and she shall " look forth fair as 
the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army 
with banners. Then shall the mountain of the Lord's 
house be established in the top of the mountains, and 
be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow 
into it." 

God in his providence has opened an effectual door 
in almost every nation for the circulation of the sacred 
Scriptures. The colporteur in France is no longer in 
danger of being impressed by the bigoted tools of a 
corrupt priesthood ; even in the states of Italy and in 
intolerant Austria the way is prepared for putting the 
Word of God in the hands of the people ; and hund- 
reds of thousands of foreigners are annually flocking 
to the shores of our own happy country, that they 
may be made acquainted with the pure Word of God. 

This is not all. The human mind is excited in a 
most extraordinary degree. The veil of sanctity is 
torn from errors whose antiquity shielded them from 



INTRODUCTION. Xxix 

investigation. Men the world over are waking up 
from the shimher of ages, and inquiring for truth. 
Romanism, the bitterest and most successful of all 
the enemies of the Bible, is tottering to its fall. The 
twelve hundred and sixty years of the reign of anti- 
Christ are drawing to a close. The pope, lauded for 
a time as more enlightened and liberal than any of his 
predecessors, has fled in disguise from his palace, has 
been deposed as a temporal sovereign by his own 
children, and now pines in exile ! Now is the time 
for the Church to put forth all her energies, that she 
may send forth the pure Word of God, as well as the 
living ministry, to enlighten the nations. It is her 
wisdom to work when the Lord is working — to hear 
the noise of a going in the mulberry-trees, and hasten 
to the conflict. 

The author of the following pages has done an im- 
portant service for the Church. What Christian does 
not desire to acquaint himself with the history and 
the success of the eflbrts which have been made to 
send the Bible, translated into all languages, to the 
people of all nations, that they may read, each in his 
own language, '' the wonderful works of God ?" It 
was no small labor to collect and arrange the immense 
mass of interesting facts which so much enhance the 
vajlue of the work ; and we are sure the author will 
receive, as he richly deserves, the thanks of every en- 
lightened friend of the cause, and will secure for the 
work a very extensive circulation. The book, like 
the enterprise it aims to promote, is in its character 
catholic. Presenting no sectarian dogma, and aim- 
ing to build up no party or sect, it will find a welcome 
in the family library of Christians of all denomina- 
tions. Filled with important and instructive facts 
connected with the translation and circulation of the 
Scriptures, both in our own country and in foreign 



^^^ INTRODUCTION. 

lands, detailing the labors and success of the different 
societies co-operating in the glorious work, it will be 
exceedingly valuable as a book of reference. 

Some books, perhaps, require a lengthy and labored 
introduction to commend them to public favor ; but this 
is not a book of that class. We need only to know 
its aim, and glance over the table of contents, to be 
convinced of its value. It is a history (and the Jirst 
history written) of one of the noblest and most phil- 
anthropic enterprises ever embarked in by men ; and 
this fact is commendation enough to secure for the 
work a careful perusal, and a permanent place in the 
ministerial and family library. 



AMERICAI BIBLE SOCIETY. 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



CHAPTER I. 

CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY PRIOR TO THE ORGANIZATION 
OF THE SOCIETY. 

Before entering upon a narrative of the operations 
of the American Bible Society, it may not be improper, 
or foreign to the subject, to take a cursory glance at 
the condition of the country prior to its organization, 
and also to notice briefly the efforts that were made 
to introduce and circulate the Scriptures in the infant 
colonies of this pilgrim land, and subsequently in the 
States. 

The Puritans having been, by persecution and pro- 
scription, " shut up to the faith" of the word of God 
alone, learned therefrom the true equality of rights, 
political as well as social and religious, and, fleeing 
from the land of oppression for conscience' sake, they 
sought an asylum in this new world. The Bible was 
the star that guided them across a wintery ocean up- 
ward of two hundred years ago; and when they landed 
upon these shores, and laid the foundations of this 
great republic, they labored assiduously to incorporate 
its principles with the elements of government, and 
diffuse them through all their institutions, civil, liter- 
ary, and religious. Amid the surrounding darkness 
of Church and State, and the efforts to abridge eccle- 
siastical and civil liberty, the Puritans, with their open 

B 



23 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Bible, nobly contended for the faith ; and Hume him- 
self, who always bore to them a special dislike, has 
said, "The precious spark of liberty had been kindled, 
and was preserved by the Puritans alone." They 
came to this land to make it the land of the Bible and 
of freedom — to worship God as revelation and con- 
science might teach. 

Only nine years previous to the landing of the Pil- 
grims, the translation of the Bible by King James had 
been made ; and the edict by Henry YIIL, which re- 
stricted its reading to royalty, and barred access to all 
the rest of mankind, with few exceptions, was revoked, 
and the living oracles were opened to all who could pro- 
cure them. The ' ' May-flower" was freighted with the 
precious legacy of Heaven, and the dim eye of age, 
together with the flashing eye of youth, caught new 
fire in poring over its sacred pages, and were melted 
at the recital of its messages of mercy and love. 

In Mr. Webster's great Bunker Hill oration the fol- 
lowing passage occurs : 

" It has been said, with very much veracity, that the 
felicity of the American colonists consisted in their 
escape from the past. This is true so far as it respects 
political establishments, but no farther. They brought 
with them a full portion of all the riches of the past 
in science, in art, in morals, religion, and literature. 
The Bible came with them. And it is not to be doubt- 
ed that to the free and universal reading of the Bible 
is to be ascribed, in that age, that men were indebted 
for right views of Civil Liberty. The Bible is a book 
which teaches man his own individual responsibility, 
his own dignity, and his equality with his felloiv-menr 

The colonists being mostly Christians, as they peo- 
pled the country, did, perhaps, all that their limited 
means would permit to supply the wants of the popu* 
lation with the Bible. As early as the beginning of 



CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, ETC. J^ 9 

the last ce;itmy, laws existed in some of the colonies 
requiring every family to he furnished with a Bihle. 
This supply continued to he kept up hy individual 
exertion until the meeting of the first Congress in 
1777, one year after the declaration of independence. 
In the early formation of our government, those who 
looked upon the experiment with jealous eyes antici- 
pated a speedy dissolution, from the fact that it made 
no provision for the establishment of religion. Al- 
though the legislative power of our country is pro- 
hihited from making laws prescrihing and enforcing 
the ohservance of any particular faith or forn^ of wor- 
ship, yet it is equally powerless in prohihiting the free 
exercise thereof, while, at the same time, it extends its 
protecting segis over the rights of conscience. The 
government has never heen unmindful of the great in- 
terests of religion, hut has from the heginning adhered 
to and carried out the language of Washington, that 
"religion and morality are indispensahle supports of 
political existence and prosperity." 

The Congress of 1777 answered a memorial on the 
suhject of Bihle destitution in this country hy appoint- 
ing a committee to advise as to the printing an edition 
of thirty thousand Bibles. The population of the 
country then was only about three millions, and all 
the Bibles in the entire world at that period did not 
exceed four millions. Thus it will be seen that its 
circulation in this and all other countries at that time 
was exceedingly limited. 

The report of the committee appointed by Congress 
forms one of the brightest epochs in the history of our 
country, and sheds a clear and steady light over every 
subsequent eventful period. The public recognition 
of God in that act was of infinitely greater importance 
in giving stability to the times, and securing the per- 
manency of our institutions, than all the imposing and 



20 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



formidable array of legal enactments ever made for the 
establishment of religion. 

The committee, finding it difficult to procure the 
necessary material, such as paper and types, recom- 
mended Congress — "the use of the Bible being so 
universal, and its importance so great- — to direct the 
Committee on Commerce to import, at the expense of 
Congress, twenty thousand English Bibles from Hol- 
land, Scotland, or elsewhere, into the different ports 
of the States of the Union." The report was adopted, 
and the importation ordered. 

In 1781, when, from the existence of the war, an 
English Bible could not be imported, and no opinion 
could be formed how long the obstruction might con- 
tinue, the subject of printing the Bible was again pre- 
sented to Congress, and it was, on motion, referred to 
a committee of three. 

The committee, after giving the subject a careful 
investigation, recommended to Congress an edition 
printed by Robert Aitken, of Philadelphia; where- 
upon it was ^^ Resolved, Th.2ii the United States, in 
Congress assembled, highly approve the pious and 
laudable undertaking of Mr. Aitken, as subservient to 
the interests of religion ; and being satisfied of the 
care and accuracy of the execution of the work, recom- 
mend this edition to the inhabitants of the United 
States." 

How interesting is such a history of the early cir- 
culation of the Bible in this country ! What moral 
sublimity in the fact, as it stands imperishably re- 
corded and filed in the national archives! Who, in 
view of this fact, will call in question the assertion 
that this is a Bible nation ? Who will charge the 
government with indifference to religion, when the 
first Congress of the States assumed all the rights 
and performed all the duties of a Bible Society long 



CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, ETC. 21 

before such an institution had an existence in the world! 
What a standing, withering rebuke this to ecclesias- 
tico-political demagogues, who, imitating the example 
of a late minister of instruction for France, would ex- 
pel the Bible from the schools of our land ! 

The universal circulation and reading of the Scrip- 
tures in this country form the foundation upon which 
rest, as on an immovable basis, our liberty and happi- 
ness. Well did De Tocqueville remark (when in- 
formed by a superintendent that the Bible was the 
only text-book in our Sabbath schools), *' What an in- 
fluence this must have upon the destiny of a nation." 
It is to this fact alone, viz., the universal circulation 
and unprohibited reading of the Scriptures, that we 
owe all our distinguishing blessings as a nation. 
During the infidel revolution in France, at the close 
of the last century, inquiry was made in the principal 
hookrstores of Paris for a copy of the Bible, but it was 
not to be found. A similar inquiry was made in 
Rome of all the book establishments of the city, and 
the invariable reply was, '' E prohibit o ;^^ " Non est per- 
messoP In all Catholic countries it is a condemned 
and prohibited book. Here it has *' free course, and 
is glorified." Palsied be the hand that would banish 
it from our schools of instruction ! Speechless be the 
tongue that would utter an anathema against the cir- 
culation and reading of the Word of God ! 

The purest patriots and the most eminent statesmen 
of our country, from the commencement of our exist- 
ence as a nation down to the present time, have re- 
vered the Bible, and cherished it as the richest legacy 
of Heaven. 

This sentiment is strongly interwoven with the 
politics of our country, however diversified may be our 
opinions and variant our political creeds. A single 
incident will illustrate this point. When it was said 



22 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



by one who occupied a prominent place in the coun- 
cils of the nation, in speaking of the political creed of 
a certain candidate for the presidency, that his opinions 
were as various and contradictory as the teachings of 
the Bible, one belonging to the same political school 
indignantly replied, " Let a nation's curse follow the 
hoary-headed blasphemer to his grave !" 

The wrecks of the many nations that lie scattered 
here and there along the shores of Time afford melan- 
choly proof of the fact, that all who despise the Word 
of God shall likewise perish. One of the finest Ori- 
ental scholars of this or any age, who has devoted his 
whole life to the acquisition of biblical science, and 
other studies of a collateral character, has declared, 
that '' in all the Bible there is not one physical, intel- 
lectual, or moral error ; nothing — absolutely nothing 
— that infidelity can contradict, or science, in her 
most enlarged discoveries, rectify." 

To all who are impressed with the importance of 
the Holy Scriptures, no argument is necessary to in- 
duce a diligent attention to their oracles as " a light to 
the feet and a lamp to the path" in this world of 
doubt and uncertainty ; nor does it require any labor 
to convince those who are thus taught of God the duty 
of supplying the destitute with the sacred treasure. 

This love for the Scriptures, and regard for its divine 
injunctions, existed in an eminent degree in the hearts 
of our forefathers ; and hence, following the example 
set by the friends of the cause in England, exhibited 
in the organization of the British and Foreign Bible 
Society^ they organized small local societies in difier- 
ent parts of the United States. These societies were 
instrumental in accomplishing much good to the im- 
mediate vicinities in which they were located, but 
their operations were necessarily much contracted, and 
their influence exceedingly limited. Bibles were ob- 



CAUSES FOR ORGANIZATION. £3 

tamed by these societies from private booksellers at a 
high price, and many of them were imperfect copies. 
They labored under these and similar embarrassments 
in supplying the destitute around them, but no pro- 
vision was made to send the Word of Life to the desti- 
tute abroad. This state of things was felt and deeply 
deplored by ministers and laymen of the different re- 
ligious denominations, and they prayed and labored to 
bring about a better state of things, that the universal 
brotherhood of man might be made partakers with 
them of the common salvation. 



CHAPTER II. 

CAUSES WHICH PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE ORGANIZA- 
TION. 

In addition to the careful consultation of all the of- 
ficial records of the society, which, in the preparation 
of this work, have been thoroughly examined, the 
writer availed himself of the information and remin- 
iscences of some of the remaining few who were mem- 
bers of the Convention which organized the society. 

Among this number were the Rev. Dr. Biggs, presi- 
dent of Woodward College, Cincinnati, and Rev. Dr. 
Beecher, the venerable president of Lane Theological 
Seminary ; the latter being the only surviving officer 
of that honorable and* ever-memorable body, having 
acted as one of the secretaries. 

The Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D., of New York, the 
author of two of the most admirably written works on 
the Bible, entitled " Obligations of the World to the 
Bible," and " The Bible not of Man," has also kindly 
furnished us with some incidents connected with the 



24 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

proceedings of the Convention. Dr. Spring took an 
active part in the proceedings of the Convention, and 
from that time to the present has devoted the energies 
of a powerful intellect to the advancement of the Bi- 
ble cause. 

The subject of organizing a national society had 
been discussed by the friends of the cause from time 
to time. Ably written articles appeared in many of 
the leading religious journals of the day in advocacy 
of the enterprise. Application was also made to some 
of the oldest and most influential of the then existing 
auxiliaries to form themselves into a general society, 
but the time had not yet fully come. A general in- 
terest was, however, awakened, and the many seem- 
ing difficulties began to give way. 

In the year 1814, a correspondent in the " Panoplist 
and Missionary Magazine" presented a powerful ap- 
peal in behalf of the Bible cause, and urged in an im- 
pressive manner the importance of the formation of 
a general Bible Society. He exhibited the biblical 
wants of the country, and presented facts tending to 
show conclusively that the few local societies which 
were in existence could not, in any adequate degree, 
supply those wants. 

He showed, also, the great and essential importance 
of such an institution in promoting the missionary 
cause by the translation and printing of the Scriptures 
in foreign tongues. 

Thus the subject continued to be agitated from year 
to year until 1815, when a plan for the organization 
of a national society originated with the New Jersey 
Bible Society, and was sent to the sister societies for 
concurrence. In 1816 the attention of the Board of 
Managers of the New York Bible Society was engaged 
in the plan, and, as the result of their deliberations, the 
following resolutions were passed : 



CAUSES FOR ORGANIZATION. 25 

" 1st. Resolved, That it is highly desirable to obtain, 
upon as large a scale as possible, a co-operation of the 
eflforts of the Christian community throughout the 
United States for the efficient distribution of the Holy 
Scriptures. 

"2d. Resolved, That, as a mean for the attainment 
of this end, it will be expedient to have a convention 
of delegates from such Bible societies as shall be dis- 
posed to concur in this measure, to meet at , on 

the day of next, for the purpose of consider- 
ing whether such a co-operation may be effected in a 
better manner than by the correspondence of the dif- 
ferent societies as now established, and if so, that they 
prepare the draft of a plan for such co-operation, to be 
submitted to the different societies for their decision. 

" 3d. Resolved, That the secretary transmit the 
above resolutions to the President of the New Jersey 
Bible Society, as expressive of the opinion of this 
board on the measure therein contained, and at the 
same time signifying the wish of this board that he 
would exercise his own discretion in bringing the sub- 
ject before the public.'' 

In pursuance of the above, the Hon. Elias Boudinot, 
president of the New Jersey Bible Society, published, 
in the Panoplist and elsewhere, a notice of a general 
meeting, to be held at the city of New York on the 
second Wednesday of May, 1816. 

The invitation only extended to the different local 
Bible societies then in existence, and though it was 
thought at the time it should have included all the 
friends of the Bible in the country, yet subsequent 
events fully justified the wisdom of the president in 
regard to the nature and extent of the call. 

The following interesting facts and incidents, in 
connection with the proceedings of the Convention 
and the organization of the society, is from the pen of 



25 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Dr. Beecher, and kindly furnished by him for this 
work : 

" Memorandum respecting the Causes which prepared the Way for the 
establishment of the American Bible Society. 

" The first cause, no doubt, was the existence and prosperous oper- 
ations of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

" The second was the foreign missionary spirit that was awakened 
a few years anterior, and the organization of the Foreign Missionary 
Society. 

" The primary agent in this movement, I am well assured, was the 
Rev. Samuel J. Mills, in whose heart the fire of foreign missions first 
burned for several years. 

" In his travels West and South he had the organization of an Amer- 
ican Bible Society at heart, and, though a man of little promise in ap- 
pearance, was distinguished by strong and increasing love to God and 
man, added to a profound wisdom, indefatigable industry, and unpar- 
alleled executive power in the excitement and combination of minds in 
benevolent organizations. 

" It was by personal conversation, I doubt not, with thousands of 
the most influential men all over our nation, and addressing, when he 
had opportunity, ecclesiastical bodies, that he had prepared the way 
for a harmonious concurrence in favor of organization when the Con- 
vention met. 

" It was a subHme spectacle when the Convention met. Each one 
had his own mind prepared by an agency which he had scarcely rec- 
ognized, and of whose ubiquitous influence he had no knowledge. "We 
came to the meeting in great weakness, humility, and prayer, feeling 
the difficulties in combining all denominations, and feeling every one 
the necessity of keeping his heart and tongue, and walking very softly, 
lest a spark of unhallowed fire falling on a train, it should explode. It 
was a meeting of select hearts, and talents, and influence, and of sub- 
lime humility, wisdom, and prayer. We felt that the place was holy 
where we stood, and that God was there ; and our fears were not real- 
ized, and our hopes were surpassed exceedingly abundantly, so cordial 
was our unity. When the vote was put that it was expedient at that 
time to organize an American Bible Society, there was a moment of 
exulting, grateful, prayerful silence. There was but one short moment 
in our proceedings when things seemed to tangle, and some feelings 
began to rise. At that moment Dr. Mason rose hastily, and said, ' Mr. 
President,* the Lord Jesus never built a church but what the devil 
built a chapel close to it ; and he is here now, this moment, in this 

* Joshua M. Wallace, Esq. 



ORGANIZATION. 



27 



room, with his finger in the ink-horn, not to write your Constitution, 
but to blot it out.' This sudden address convulsed the Convention 
with laughter, which in a moment dispelled the storm and revealed a 
clear sun, which instantly perceiving, he said, ' There ! there ! he has 
gone already to his blue brimstone 1' " 



CHAPTEH III. 

ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY. 

In obedience to the command of our divine Lord and 
Savior Jesus Christ, requiring the Church to ''publish 
the Gospel to every creature," coupled with the injunc- 
tion to all to '' search the Scriptures," the Americ^-n 
Bible Society was instituted. Its primary object was 
to supply the biblical wants of this widely-extended 
country, but its benevolence was not designed to be 
limited to this country alone. The original design 
was clearly manifested in the language of the first 
address : " Let it not be supposed that geographical or 
political limits are to be the limits of the American 
Bible Society ; the designation is meant, not to indi- 
cate the restriction of their labor, but the source of its 
emanation. They will embrace, with thankfulness and 
pleasure, every opportunity of raying out, by means of 
the Bible, according to their ability, the light of life 
and immortality to such parts of the world as are desti- 
tute of the blessing and within their reach. In this 
high vocation they are ambitious to be fellow- workers 
with those who are fellow- workers with God." 

Impressed with such truly catholic principles, the 
friends of the Bible cause came up to the work, and 
the 8th of May, 1816, witnessed Christians of almost 
every denomination, from every part of the United 
States, assembled in Convention, in the city of New 



28 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

York, for the purpose of deliberation in reference to 
the organization of a general society. 

The Convention was organized by calling to the 
chair Joshua M. Wallace, Esq., of Burlington, and the 
appointment of Rev. Messrs. Romeyn and Beecher 
secretaries. The following delegates from the different 
local societies presented their credentials, and were 
duly admitted to seats : 

Bassett, Rev. John, D.D., Bushwick, L. I. 

Bayard, Samuel, Princeton, N. J. 

Beecher, Rev. Lyman, D.D., Secretary of the Convention, Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio. 

Biggs, Rev. Thomas J., Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Blatchford, Rev. Samuel, D.D., Lansinghurg, N. Y. 

Blythe, Rev. James, D.D., South Hanover, Ind. 

Bogart, Rev. David S., New York. 

Bradford, Rev. John M., D.D., Albany, N. Y. 

Burd, WilHam, St. Louis, Missouri. 

Caldwell, John E., New York. 

Callender, Levi, Greenville, N. Y. 

Chester, Rev. John, D.D., Albany, N. Y. 

Clarke, Matthew St. Clair, Washington, D. C. 

Cooley, Rev. Eh F., Monmouth, N. J. 

Cooper, James, New York. 

Day, Orrin, Catskill, N. Y. 

Eddy, Thomas, New York. 

Ford, Rev. Henry, Elmira, N. Y. 

Forrest, Rev. Robert, Roseville, N. Y. 

Griscom, John, LL.D., Trenton, N. J. 

Hall, Rev. James, D.D., Statesville, N. C. 

Henshaw, Rt. Rev. J. P. K., D.D., Providence, R. I. 

Hornblower, Joseph C, LL.D., Newark, N. J., Vice President 

Humphrey, Rev. Heman, D.D., Pittsfield, Mass. 

Jay, Wilham, Bedford, N. Y., Vice President. 

Jones, Rev. David, Holmesburgh, Penn. 

Lewis, Rev. Isaac, D.D., Greenwich, Ct. 

Linklaen, Gen. John, Cazenovia, N. Y. 

M'Dowell, Rev. John, D.D., Philadelphia, Penn. 

Mason, Rev. John M., D.D., New York. 

Milledoler, Rev. Philip, D.D., New York. 

Morse, Rev. Jedediah, D.D., New Haven, Conn. 

Mott, Valentine, M.D., New York. 



ORGANIZATION. 29 

Mulligan, William C, New York. 

Murray, John, Jr., New York. 

Neil, Rev. William, D.D., Philadelphia, Penn. 

Nott, Rev. Eliphalet, D.D., Schenectady, N. Y. 

Oliver, Rev. Andrew, Springfield, N. Y. 

Piatt, Rev. Isaac W., Athens, Penn. 

Proudfit, Rev. Alexander, D.D., New York. 

Rice, Rev. John H., D.D. 

Richards, Rev. James, D.D., Auburn, N. Y. 

Romeyn, Rev. John B., D.D., Sec. of the Convention, New York 

Sands, Joshua, BrookljTi, L. I. 

Sayres, Rev. Gilbert, Jamaica, L. I. 

Sedgwick, Robert, New York. 

Skinner, Ichabod L., Washington, D. C. 

Spring, Rev. Samuel, D.D., Newburyport, Mass. 

Spring, Rev. Gardiner, D.D., New York. 

Swift, Gen. Joseph G., Brooklyn, L. I. 

Taylor, Rev. N. W., D.D., New Haven, Conn. 

Van Sinderen, Adrian, Brooklyn, L. I. 

Vroom, Guysbert B., New York. 

Wallace, Joshua M., Fres. of the Convention, Burlington, N. J. 

Warner, Henry W., New York. 

WiUiams, Rev. John, New York. 

WiUiaras, WiUiam, Vernon, N. Y. 

Wilmur, Rev. Simon, Swedesborough, N. J. 

Woodhull, Rev. George S. 

Wright, Charles, Flushing, L. I. 

It was an auspicious day, pregnant with blessings 
to this country. The occasion was great, and great 
were the men, and worthy, that it called together — 
names illustrious for rare virtues and noble deeds in 
Church and State. The Bible Society will ever prove 
an enduring monument to perpetuate their acts. Del- 
egates from twenty-eight local societies participated in 
the deliberations of that hour. Difficulties, it is true, 
were anticipated, and some arose ; but as they pro- 
gressed in the spirit of forbearance and mutual conces- 
sion, they passed away like the mist from the surface 
of a clear, calm river in the light of the sun. It was 
the first time the difierent religious denominations 



30 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



were brought together for concerted action ; but they 
met on the broad platform of the Bible, 

" Where names, and sects, and parties- fall." 

They presented to the world a model of an evangel- 
ical alliance, ha-ving for its basis the true catholic doc- 
trine — the Bible — God's revelation to man, the only 
and sufficient rule of faith and practice — the right and 
duty of private interpretation. The great object for 
which they had assembled was, not to investigate its 
claims as a rule of faith, or to debate the question of 
the right of private judgment, but to enter at once 
upon the work of demising means for its universal cir- 
culation, Avithout note or comment, among all nations, 
of whatever name, or country, or caste, or color, " ex- 
cluding, by its very nature, all local feelings, party 
prejudices, and sectarian jealousies." They declared 
themselves '• leagued in that, and that alone, which 
calls up every hallowed, and puts doA^m every unhal- 
lowed principle, the dissemination of the Scriptures in 
the received versions where they exist, and in the 
most faithful where they may be required. In such a 
work, whatever is dignified, kind, venerable, true, has 
ample scope, while sectarian littleness and rivalries 
can find no avenue of admission." 

The Convention appointed a committee, consisting 
of Drs. iSott, Mason, Morse, and Blythe, and Messrs. 
Beecher, Bayard, Wilmer, Wright, Bice, Jones, and 
Jay, to draft a Constitution, whereupon it adjourned 
until the following morning. 

On the morning of the 11th of May the Conven- 
tion met agreeably to adjournment; the committee 
presented the Constitution, which, after having been 
read in whole, and afterward in paragraphs, and care- 
fully considered, was unanimously adopted, as fol- 
lows : 



ORGANIZATION. 3 j^ 



CONSTITUTION. 

I. This Society shall be known by the name of the American Bible 
Society, of which the sole object shall be to encourage a wider circula- 
tion of the Holy Scriptures, without note or comment. The only cop- 
ies in the English language to be circulated by the Society shall be of 
the version now in common use. 

II. This Society shall add its endeavors to those employed by other 
societies for circulating the Scriptures throughout the United States 
and their territories, and shall furnish them with stereotj^e plates or 
such other assistance as circumstances may require. This Society shall 
also, according to its ability, extend its influence to other countries, 
whether Christian, Mohammedan, or pagan. 

III. All Bible Societies shall be allowed to purchase at cost from 
this Society Bibles for distribution Avithin their own districts. The 
members of aU such Bible Societies as shall agree to place their sur- 
phis revenue, after supplying their own districts with Bibles, at the 
disposal of this Society, shall be entitled to vote in all meetings of the 
Society, and the officers of such societies shall be ex-officio directors of 
this.* 

IV. Each subscriber of three dollars annually shall be a member. 

V. Each subscriber of thirty dollars at one time shall be a member 
for life. 

fVI. Each subscriber of fifteen dollars annually shaU be a director. 

VII. Each subscriber of one hundred and fifty dollars at one time, 
or who shall, by one additional payment, increase his origmal subscrip- 
tion to one hundred and fifty dollars, shall be a director for life. 

VIII. Directors shall be entitled to attend and vote at all meetings 
of the Board of Managers. 

IX. A Board of Managers shall be appointed to conduct the busi- 
ness of the Society, consisting of thirty-six laymen, of whom twenty- 
four shall reside in the city of New York or its vicinity. One fourth 
part of the whole number shall go out of office at the expiration of each 
year, but shall be re-eligible. Every minister of the Gospel who is a 
member of the Society shall be entitled to meet and vote with the 
Board of Managers, and be possessed of the same powers as a manager 
himself 

The Managers shall appoint all officers, and call special general 
meetings, and ffil such vacancies as may occur, by death or otherwise, 
in their own board. 

X. Each member of the Society shall be entitled, under the direction 

* The latter clause of this article was amended by striking out. 
t This article was expunged in 1819. 



32 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of the Board of Managers, to purchase Bibles and Testaments at the 
Society's prices, which shall be as low as possible. 

XI. The annual meetings of the Society shall be held at New York 
or Philadelphia, at the option of the Society, on the second Thursday 
of May in each year, when the Managers shall be chosen, the accounts 
presented, and the proceedings of the foregoing year reported. 

Xn. The President, Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, Assistant Treas- 
urer, General Agent, and Secretaries for the time being, shall be 
considered ex officio members of the Board of Managers. 

Xni. At the general meetings of the Society, and the meetings 
of the managers, the President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President 
first on the list then present, and in the absence of all the Vice-Presi- 
dents, such member as shall be appointed for that purpose, shall pre- 
side at the meeting. 

XrV". The managers shall meet on the iirst Thursday in each 
month, or oftener if necessary, at such place in the city of New York 
as they shall from time to time adjourn to. 

XV. The Managers shall have the power of appointing such per- 
sons as have rendered essential services to the Society either members 
for hfe or directors for life. 

XVI. The whole minutes of every meeting shall be signed by the 
chairman. 

^XVII. The President, or, in his absence, the Vice-President first 
on the list in the city of New York, may, at the written request of six 
members of the Board, call special meetings of the Board of Managers, 
causing three days' notice of such meetings to be given. 

fXVIII. The Board of Managers may admit to the privileges of an 
auxiliary any society which was organized, and had commenced the 
printing, publi«ation, and issuing of the sacred Scriptures before the 
establishment of this Society, with such relaxation of the terms of ad- 
mission hereunto prescribed as the said Board, two thirds of the mem- 
bers present consenting, may think proper, 

XIX. No alteration shall be made to this Constitution except by 
the Society at an annual meeting, on the recommendation of the Board 
of Managers.^ 

After the adoption of the Constitution, the Conven- 
tion proceeded to the election of thirty-six managers, 
as provided for in the Constitution. These managers 
were, in accordance with the general principles of the 

* This article was added in 1819. t This article was added in 1829. 
X This is now numbered the XVIth article. 



ORGANIZATION. 



33 



society, selected from the different evangelical de- 
nominations co-operating with the American Bible 
Society. The following were unanimously chosen: 

Henry Rutgers, Ebenezer Burrill, 

John Bingham, Andrew Gifford, 

Richard Varick, George Gosman, 

Thomas Far]mar, Thomas Carpenter, 

Stephen Van Rensselaer, Leonard Bleecker, 

Samuel Boyd, John Caldwell, 

George Suckley, Rufus King, 

DrviE Betitune, Thomas Stokes, 

WiLLiAiVi Bayard, Joshua Sands, 

Peter M'Cartee, George Warner, 

Thomas Shields, De Witt Clinton, 

Robert Ralston, John Warder, 

John R. B. Rodgers, Samuel Bayard, 

Dr. Peter Wilson, Duncan P. Campbell, 

Jeremiah Evarts, John Aspinwall, 

John Watts, M.D., John Murray, Jun., 

Thojmas Eddy, Charles Wright, 

William Johnson, Cornelius Heyer. 

They were duly notified of their appointment, and 
met in the City Hall on the 11th of May, and, in the 
exercise of the powers granted them by the Constitu- 
tion, unanimously elected the following as the first 
officers of the American Bible Society for one year : 

President. 
Hon. Elias Boudinot, of New Jersey. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Hon. John Jay, ^ 

Matthew Clarkson, Esq., \ of New York. 

Hon. Smith Thompson, ) 

Hon. John Langdon, of New Hampshire. 

Hon. Caleb Strong, ) c-mt n 

^^ ^^^ ^ \ 01 Massachusetts. 

Hon. William Gray, ) 

Hon. John Cotton Smith, of Connecticut. 

Hon. Jonas Galusha, of Vermont. 

Hon. William Jones, of Rhode Island. 

Hon. Isaac Shelby, ^ fir f V 

• George Madison, Esq., \ 

c 



34 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Hon. William Tilghman, of Pennsylvania. 

Hon. BusHROD Washington, ) ^f yi^g^jia. 

William Wirt, Esq., ) 

Hon. Charles C. Pinckney, of South Carolina. 

Hon. William Gaston, of North Carolina. 

Hon. Thomas Worthington, of Ohio. 

Hon. Thomas Posey, of Indiana. 

Hon. James Brown, of Louisiana. 

John Bolton, Esq., of Georgia. 

Hon. Felix Grundy, of Tennessee. 

Robert Oliver, Esq., of Maryland. 

Joseph Nourse, Esq., of the District of Columbia. 

Secretary for Foreign Correspondence. 
Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason. 

Secretary for Domestic Correspondence. 
Rev. Dr. J. B. Romeyn. 

Treasurer. 

RlCHAR-D VaRICK, Esq. 

An eloquent and powerful address to the people of 
the United States, written by Dr. Mason, was report- 
ed by the committee, adopted, and published. 

We have already quoted from this address, and 
shall have occasion to recur to its principles frequent- 
ly in the progress of the work. 

In the organization of the society, every subject 
which came under the review of the delegates com- 
posing the Convention received the most frank and 
full investigation, and the greatest care was taken to 
exclude whatever had the remotest connection with 
sectarianism in any of its forms. 

The founders of the society, and the first officers 
elected to manage its concerns, were connected with 
the leading evangelical churches of the land, such as 
the Protestant Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian, 
the Dutch Reformed, the Methodist Episcopal, the 
Baptist, the Congregational, and the Society of 
Friends. 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 35 

The harmony, cordiality, and Christian forbearance 
which characterized the deliberations and proceedings 
of the Convention, presented the clearest evidence of 
the Divine approbation, and a pledge of the Divine 
blessing upon its future career. Many who had thek 
doubts in regard to the practicability of the plan and 
its ultimate success, had no sooner witnessed its first 
movements than they yielded to the conviction that 
they were in error, and heartily joined with those who 
had never doubted in cherishing the hope that the in- 
stitution would ultimately realize its most sanguine 
expectations. 

The managers committed all the interests of the in- 
stitution to God, believing that he who had " magni- 
fied his Word above all his name" would secure the 
prosperity of an institution which had for its object 
the circulation of that word throughout the world. 



CHAPTER IV. 

MANAGERS AND OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY. 

As before stated, the only officers known to the Con- 
stitution consist of a Board of Managers^ composed of 
thirty-six laymen, every minister of the Gospel who 
is a member for life being honorary and ex-officio 
members, and also every lay director for life. This 
board has the power of appointing all the officers of 
the society, which consist of a President^ twenty-five 
Vice-Presidents, selected from the different states of 
the Union, three Secretaries, a Treasurer, General 
Agent and Assistant Treasurer, and also the special 
and Standing Committees, namely, On Publication 



36 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

andFincmce^ Distribution^ Agencies^ Anniversary^ Ver- 
sions^ Legacies^ and Auditing Committee, 

The board from time to time enacted By-laivs for 
their government and that of the society. These rules 
were collected together from the various reports by 
a special committee. The board amended them in 
several particulars, gave them their sanction and 
adoption. The By-laws at present are the following, 
as amended from time to time : 

Article I. — Old Constitution. 

The several provisions and articles of the Constitution of this So- 
ciety adopted in the year 1816, and as subsequently amended, are 
hereby adopted as By-laws of this Society, and shall continue in force 
as such ; and no alteration shall be made in such provisions and ar- 
ticles, nor any By-law be passed by this Society or the Board of Man- 
agers thereof, repealing, altering, or impairing the force or effect of 
any provision or article thereof, except by this Society at an anniial 
meeting on the recommendation of the Board of Managers. 

Article II. — Tenure of Officers. 

All the officers of this Society shall hold their respective offices 
during the pleasure of the Board of Managers. 

Article HI. — Election of Officers and Managers to fill Vacancies. 

Section 1. — Whenever a vacancy shall occur in any of the offices 
of the Society, the Committee on Nominations shall report to the 
Board of Managers a candidate to fill such vacancy. Such report 
may be acted on by the Board at the same meeting at which it is 
made ; and, when adopted by the Board, shall be equivalent to an 
election by ballot. 

Section 2. — All nominations of candidates to fill vacancies in the 
Board of Managers, except as hereinafter provided, shall be openly 
made at a meeting of the Board, and referred to the Committee on 
Nominations to consider and report thereon at the next, or a subse- 
quent stated meeting of the Board. The report of the Committee 
in favor of a candidate, when adopted by the Board, shall be equiv- 
alent to an election by ballot. The Committee on Nominations may 
present to the Board an original nomination of a candidate to fill a 
vacancy in the Board of Managers ; but such original nomination by 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 37 

the Committee shall not be acted on by the Board at the same meet- 
ing at which it is made, but shall lie over to the next, or a subse- 
quent stated meeting of the Board. If at such meeting it shall be 
adopted by the Board, it shall be a valid election of the candidate as 
a member of the Board of Managers. 

Article r\^. — Foreign Versions. 

In appropriating money for translating, printing, or distributing 
the sacred Scriptures in foreign languages, the Board of Managers 
shall encourage only such versions as conform in the principles of 
their translation to the common English version, at least so far that 
all the religious denominations represented in this Society can con- 
sistently use and circulate said versions in their several schools and 
communities. 

Article V. — Sale of Boohs. 

That while the managers of the American Bible Society do not feel 
at liberty to dictate positive terms on which Auxiliary Societies shall 
sell books purchased at the General Depository, yet they can not but 
express their full and unanimous conviction that the interest of the 
Bible cause will be best promoted by confining the terms of sale to 
the original cost, together with the expenses incurred in reaching the 
several places where they are to be re-issued. 

Article VI. — Privileges of Life Members and Directors. 

Each life member of this Society shall be allowed to receive from, 
the Depository annually, for distribution, the value of one dollar, 
and each life director two and a half dollars, in Bibles and Testa- 
ments, in plain binding. An account shall be kept of this class of 
issues in a separate book, and the amount of such issues shall be pre- 
sented in the Annual Eeport. 

Article VII. — 3Iinutes of Proceedings. 

Section 1. — Full and accurate minutes shall be kept of the pro- 
ceedings of this Society at their annual and other meetings, and of 
the proceedings of the Board of Managers at their stated monthly 
and other meetings, which minutes shall be duly recorded in books 
to be provided for that purpose, and signed by the presiding officers 
of such meetings respectively. That said minutes shall be kept and 
recorded by the General Agent of the Society, or, in his absence 
from any of said meetings, by such person as the meeting shall ap- 
point for that purpose; and such minutes shall be read and ap- 



38 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

proved by the Society and the Board of Managers at their next sub- 
sequent meeting, and signed by the presiding officer. 

Section 2. — Full and accurate minutes shall be kept of the pro- 
ceedings of the Committees on Publication and Finance, Versions, 
Distribution, Agencies, Anniversaries, and Legacies, and shall be 
duly recorded in books to be provided for that purpose, and signed 
by the presiding chairman of the said Committees respectively. That 
such minutes shall be kept and recorded by the several officers of 
this Society, as directed in these By-laws, and in their absence by 
such persons as the Committees shall respectively appoint for that 
purpose. The minutes of said Committees shall be read at the 
stated meetings of the Board of Managers, and submitted to said 
Board for approval. 

Article VIII. — Accounts and Boohs of Accounts. 

Section 1. — There shall be kept in double entry a full and com- 
plete set of books of account of all the transactions and dealings of 
this Society, consisting of Ledgers, Journals, and such other books 
of account as the business and transactions of the Society may re- 
quire, including a register of life members and directors. 

Section 2. — The fiscal year of this Society shall commence on the 
first day of April and terminate on the last day of March, and all 
accounts with this Society shall be closed and balanced on the last 
day of March in each year. 

Section 3. — The books of account of this Society shall be balanced 
annually, on the last day of March in each year, and a balance sheet 
and inventory made, showing the funds, property, and effects belong- 
ing to this Society on that day, which balance sheet and inventory 
shall be presented to the Board of Managers at the earliest day prac- 
ticable, and referred to the Auditing Committee, unless otherwise di- 
rected by the Board, which Committee shall examine the same in 
detail, and report thereon to said Board ; and after being so reported 
upon, such balance sheet and inventory shall be put on file, and pre- 
served for future use or reference. 

Section 4. — There shall be kept an account of all expenditures 
incurred in conducting the business both of the printing and binding, 
separately, of the Society, and at the close of its fiscal year the Gen- 
eral Agent shall make, or cause to be made, at its stated meeting in 
the month of May following, a statement showing the cost, separately, 
of the printing and binding of the various editions of the books pub- 
lished by the Society, under the direction of the committee having 
charge of such business, and present to the Board of Managers. 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 39 

And that said Agent at the same time shall present to the Board of 
Managers a statement showing the price at which the same kinds 
of printing could be procured by contract from respectable private 
establishments in the city of New York. 

Article IX. — Library. 

All books not for sale or distribution belonging to the Society, and 
all manuscripts and other interesting papers, which the Society, 
Board of Managers, Committees, or Secretaries may deem worthy 
of preservation, a copy of the first edition of every book published by 
the Society, and a copy of every other edition thereof in which ma- 
terial alterations have been made, shall be placed and preserved in 
the Library of the Society. 

Article '^.—Depository. 

All the books printed and published by the Society, and completed 
ready for sale or distribution, shall be placed in the Depository of 
the Society. Full and accurate accounts shall be kept of all books 
delivered into the Depository, and taken therefrom, by sale or other- 
wise, and of all sales made. Such accounts shall be balanced month- 
ly, and the results reported to the Committee on Publication, with 
a statement showing the amount of sales in the Depository for cash 
dm'ing the month, and the quantity of each kind of books in the De- 
pository at the close of the month. The amount of which sales and 
a brief statement of the quantity of books on hand shall be entered 
on the minutes of that Committee. 

Article XI. — Depositary. 

There shall be an officer of this Society called a Depositary. He 
shall, under the direction of the General Agent and Committee on 
Publication, have the immediate charge of the Depository, and of 
the books and property of the Society therein. He shall, under the 
like direction, fill, or attend to the filling of, all orders on the De- 
pository for books or other property. He shall keep full and accu- 
rate accounts of all books and property delivered into the Depository 
and taken from it. He shall make out monthly a full and accurate 
statement of the accounts of all books and property received into the 
Depository and taken therefrom during the month, and remaining 
therein at the end of the month. This statement he shall present to 
the General Agent, who shall examine the same, and ascertain its 
accuracy by comparison with the accounts kept by him, or under his 
direction and supervision. He shall also present such statement to 



40 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the Committee on Publication. The Depositary shall discharge such 
other reasonable duties as may be required of him by the General 
Agent, any Committee of the Society, or the Board of Managers. 

Article XII. — Assistant Depositary, 

Connected with the Depository, there shall be, under the general 
supervision and direction of the General Agent and Committee on 
PubKcation, a room in which the publications of the Society may be 
sold at retail for cash only. This room and its business shall be un- 
der the immediate charge and management of an Assistant Depos- 
itary, to be appointed by the Committee on Publication. He shall 
keep full and accurate accounts of all books and property of the So- 
ciety received into this room for sale, of all sales made by him, and 
of all moneys received therefor, and shall pay over all such moneys 
daily to the Assistant Treasurer, and take his receipt therefor. 
These accounts shall be balanced monthly, and one copy thereof 
presented to the General Agent for the Committee on Publication, 
and another to the Assistant Treasurer for the Committee on Finance. 

Article XIII. — ''■Bible Society Record^ 

There shall be published, as often as once in every two months, a 
pamphlet called the " Bible Society Record," which shall contain in- 
teresting and instructive extracts from the correspondence of the So- 
ciety, short notices of the proceedings of this Society and its auxil- 
iaries, and a full and complete monthly statement of all payments 
and donations to the Society, the names of the societies, congrega- 
tions, and persons from whom and through whom such payments 
and donations were made ; and a copy of said Record shall be sent 
to every payer or donor whose payment or donation is acknowledged 
in it, and to such other persons and societies as the officers or mem- 
bers of the Board of Managers may designate. 

Article XTV. 

The officers of the Society, at the close of the fiscal year, shall 
prepare for the annual report of the Society, and present to the Cor- 
responding Secretaries, all requisite statements and information re- 
lating to the business and affiiirs of their respective departments. 

Article XV. — Contracts. 

No contract for any purpose whatever, except for the purchase of 
materials, exclusive of machinery, used in the current manufacturing 
business of the Society, which shall involve an expenditure or outlay 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 41 

of money exceeding $500, shall be made on behalf of the Society, 
nor shall any purchase of property, to be permanently held by the 
Society, be made, without being first approved by the Board of Man- 



Akticle XVI. — Standing Committees. 

There shall be elected annually, by ballot, at the first meeting of 
the Board of Managers after the annual meeting of the Society in 
May, the following standing committees of seven members each, viz. : 
A Committee on Finance, 

" Versions, 

" Publication, 

*' Distribution, 

" Agencies, 

" Legacies, 

" Nominations, and 

" Anniversaries ; 

and an Auditing Committee of three members. •> 

Article XVII. — Committee on Finance. 

The Committee on Finance shall have charge of the real estate of 
the Society, and fix the rents thereof They shall order and super- 
intend the necessary repairs of the buildings ; authorize and direct 
the purchase of the necessary furniture and articles for the Man- 
agers' Room, the several offices of the Society, and for the Library 
and Depository. They shall audit all bills, accounts, and claims 
upon the Society for money or property, and shall draw warrants 
on the Treasurer for all payments to be made by the Society. They 
shall have charge of all debts due to the Society, and of all claims 
and demands by the same ; and shall take or direct the necessary 
and proper measures for their collection and settlement ; and shall 
devise and recommend measures for raising funds. 

The minutes of the proceedings of this Committee shall be kept 
and recorded by the Assistant Treasurer. 

Article XVm. — Committee on Versions. 

The Committee on Versions shall have charge of all translations 
of the Bible published or distributed by the Society, and shall ex- 
amine all new translations thereof presented for the consideration or 
action of the Society, especially in regard to their catholicity and 
the fidelity of their translation ; and shall recommend such as they 
approve to the patronage and use of the Society. 



42 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

One of the Corresponding Secretaries shall keep and record the 
minutes of the proceedings of this Committee. 

AnTicLE XIX. — Committee on Publication. 

The Committee on Publication shall have charge generally of the 
publications made by the Society; and shall determine the num- 
ber, quality, and kinds of the editions of the books authorized to be 
published ; and shall recommend to the Board of Managers the pro- 
curing or making of stereotype plates, whenever in their judgment 
they are needed, or w^ould be expedient, and shall direct and super- 
intend the procurement or preparation of all such as shall be order- 
ed by the Board. They shall have charge of the printing, binding, 
and all the other manufacturing and mechanical operations of the 
Society ; they shall direct the negotiating and making of all con- 
tracts relating thereto ; and all purchases of paper, and other ma- 
terials required therein, shall be made under the advice and gen- 
eral direction, or with the approbation, of this Committee, sub- 
ject always to the provisions and restrictions contained in the 
By-laws. 

The minutes of the proceedings of this Committee shall be kept 
and recorded by the General Agent. 

Article XX.- — Committee on Distribution. 

The Committee on Distribution shall have charge of all grants of 
books and money both for domestic and foreign distribution. They 
shall have power to make donations not exceeding $100, and shall 
only recommend all other grants for the approval of the Board of 
Managers. 

The General Agent shall keep and record the minutes of the pro- 
ceedings of this Committee. 

Article XXI. — Committee on Agencies. 

This Committee shall have charge of the entire business of agen- 
cies. They shall procure and recommend to the Board suitable per- 
sons for permanent agents ; they shall have power to appoint tem- 
porary agents, and to fix the amount of compensation to be allowed 
them, provided that it shall not in any instance exceed $10 per week ; 
and they shall also procure, when practicable, delegates to attend 
the meetings of auxiliary and other societies. 

The Assistant Treasurer shall keep and record the minutes of the 
proceedings of this Committee. 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 43 

Article XXII. — Legacies. 

This Committee shall take charge of and collect all legacies be- 
queathed to the Society. 

The Assistant Treasurer shall keep and record the minutes of the 
proceedings of this Committee. 

Article XXIII. — Anniversaries, 

This Committee shall have charge of all arrangements for the An- 
niversaries of the Society, and especially shall provide speakers for 
them, obtain a suitable place for the annual meeting of the Society, 
and examine and approve the annual report previously to its pre- 
sentation to the Board of Managers. 

One of the Corresponding Secretaries shall keep and record the 
minutes of the proceedings of this Committee. 

Article XXTV. — Auditing. 

This Committee shall examine and audit the Treasurer's Report 
and the annual balance sheet and inventory of the funds, property, 
and effects belonging to the Society, and report thereon to the Board 
of Managers. 

Article XXV. — Corresponding Secretaries. 

There shall be one or more Corresponding Secretaries of this So- 
ciety. Under the direction of the Board of Managers, and of the 
Committees on Versions, Distribution, and Anniversaries, they shall 
conduct the foreign and domestic correspondence of the Society gen- 
erally, and especially in relation to translations of the Holy Scrip- 
tures, their distribution and circulation ; and in relation to the an- 
niversaries of the Society, and the holding of meetings to promote 
and extend the circulation of the Sacred Scriptures. They shall co- 
operate with the Assistant Treasurer in the raising of funds, and 
shall correspond with the Auxiliary Societies, Agents, and other per- 
sons, in regard to that subject. Under the direction of the Commit- 
tee on Agencies, they shall give directions to, and correspond with, 
the traveling and other agents of the Society in relation to the mat- 
ters connected with such agencies. They shall visit the traveling 
and other agents of the Society, and different sections of the coun- 
try ; attend meetings, preach sermons, and make addresses as often 
as time, opportunity, and other paramount duties may permit ; and 
in all ways in their power promote the objects and forward the 
great work for which the Society was founded. They shall have 



44 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

charge of the Library ; shall edit the '■'•Bihle Society Record,''^ and su- 
perintend its publication. Under the direction of the Committee on 
Anniversaries, they shall prepare and draw the Annual Report of 
the Society, and report the same to the Board of Managers for its 
approval. They shall also make to the Board of Managers, at each 
of its stated meetings, a report of their own acts and proceedings. 

They shall be advisory members of the Committees on Versions, 
Distribution, Agencies, and Anniversaries. 

Article XXVI. — Treasurer. 

The Treasurer shall keep an account, in the name of " The Amer- 
ican Bible Society," with such bank or banks in the city of New 
York as the Board of Managers shall designate for that purpose ; 
and there shall be deposited in such bank or banks, to the credit of 
the Society, all moneys paid to the Treasurer or to the Assistant 
Treasurer, or which may from time to time come into their hands 
for, or on account of, the Society, which such bank or banks will re- 
ceive on deposit or for collection. A fuU and accurate account shall 
be kept of the receipts and disbursements for the Society ; and the 
Treasurer shall present to the Board of Managers, monthly, a full 
report of the same, and of the state of the treasury. He shall have 
charge of the Building Fund of the Society, and shall manage the 
same under the direction of the Committee on Finance, and report 
the condition thereof quarterly to the Board of Managers. Such 
part of said special fund as may not be invested in productive se- 
curities shall be deposited, in a separate account, to the credit of 
the Society, in the bank or banks designated by the Board of Man- 
agers for the deposit of the general funds of the Society, and be 
drawn therefrom in the manner prescribed in the By-laws in regard 
to those funds, and only for the legitimate objects of the said Build- 
ing Fund. The balance of the rents of the real estate, after paying 
the interest on the debt created in its purchase and improvement, 
shall be added to the Building Fund, which fund shall be, from time 
to time, applied to the gradual reduction of the principal of that 
debt, until its complete extinguishment; and whenever that debt 
shall be so extinguished, the rents of the real estate shall thereafter 
be applied to the general purposes of the Society. 

The Treasurer shall be, ex officio, a member of the Committee on 
Finance. 

Article XXVII. — Assistant Treasurer. 
There shall be an Assistant Treasurer of this Society. He shall 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 45 

have the custody of the Charter, By-laws, Deeds, Leases, Bonds, and 
Contracts of the Society. Pie shall receive and acknowledge the re- 
ceipt of all moneys paid or given to the Society, and shall keep full 
and accurate accounts thereof; and shall, whenever the same amounts 
to one hundred dollars, deposit daily to the credit of the Society, in 
such bank or banks as the Board of Managers shall have designated 
for that purpose, all moneys or funds of the Society, which the bank 
will receive on deposit or for collection. He shall safely keep all the 
moneys not on deposit, and shall, under such regulations as may be 
adopted by the Committee on Finance, convert the unbankable mon- 
ey of the Society into bankable funds. 

All payments by the Society shall be made in coin or bankable 
funds. 

The Assistant Treasurer shall attend to the collection and settle- 
ment of debts and balances due to the Society from agents, auxiliary 
and other societies and persons, and shall conduct the correspond- 
ence respecting the same. He shall make out and furnish to the 
Corresponding Secretaries, for publication in the "Bible Society Kec- 
ord," a full and complete monfhly statement of all payments and do- 
nations to the Society, with the names of the societies, congregations, 
churches, and persons from or through whom such payments or do- 
nations were made. 

He shall also furnish, for the Annual Report, such tabular or 
other statements of matters appertaining to his department as may 
be necessary and proper. 

He shall receive all legacies, and deliver proper discharges for the 
same. He shall pay all bills duly audited against the Building Fund 
of the Society. He shall also pay all warrants of the Committee on 
Finance for the payment of money; and no check ghall be drawn 
for money in bank except upon the warrant of that Committee ; and 
all checks shall be drawn by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, 
and to the order of the party to whom the payment is to be made, 
and shall be countersigned by the General Agent, or, in his absence, 
by one of the Corresponding Secretaries, who shall examine and 
compare the check with the warrant upon which it is drawn. 

The Assistant Treasurer shall have charge of the letting of prem- 
ises in the new Bible House, and collecting the rents thereof from 
tenants, under such regulations as now exist, or may from time to 
time be established by the Committee on Finance or the Board of 
Managers. He shall make, or cause to be made out, all statements 
and inventories in his department, directed by the By-laws, or re- 
quired by the Board of Managers. He shall, under the direction of 



46 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the Committee on Finance, employ such clerk or clerks as the busi- 
ness of his office may require. 

He shall be, ex officio, an advisory member of the Committees on 
Finance, Agencies, and Legacies. 

Article XXVIII. — General Agent. 

There shall be a General Agent of this Society, who shall be, ex 
officio, its Eecording Secretary. As such, he shall have the custody 
of the corporate seal of the Society, and, with the presiding officer, 
certify its acts and the acts of the Board of Managers. He shall im- 
mediately communicate all resolutions of the Society or Board of 
Managers imposing any duty on an officer. Committee, or member 
of the Board of Managers. He shall issue certificates of life mem- 
bership and life directorship. He shall, in the name of the Society, 
execute all deeds, bonds, contracts, leases, and releases authorized by 
the Society, Board of Managers, the several committees or officers 
having power for that purpose. He shall attend to all the business 
of the Society not specially committed to others. He shall examine 
and recommend to the Committee on* Finance for audit and allow- 
ance, or rejection, all bills, accounts, and claims upon the Society 
for money or property. He shall, under the direction of the Com- 
mittee on Finance, cause the property of the Society to be insured. 
He shall have the charge and supervision of all the property of the 
Society not specially committed to others, and shall exercise over 
the same a vigilant watchfulness and care. He shall, under the di- 
rection of the Committee on Publication, make all purchases of pa- 
per and other materials required for use in the current business of 
the Society, subject, however, to the provisions and restrictions con- 
tained in the By-laws. He shall see that all articles used in the 
several departments of the business of the Society are economically 
and judiciously used, and that the work of the Society is well and 
skillfully done. He shall negotiate and settle the terms of all con- 
tracts, not otherwise provided for, made in behalf of the Society, and 
report the same for approval to the Board of Managers, or to the 
committee or officer having charge of the same. He shall execute, 
or superintend' the execution of, all orders from auxiliaries and oth- 
er societies on the Depository for books ; for all grants of books by 
the Board of Managers, or committees having power to that effect ; 
and issue orders for books for life members and life directors, and 
conduct or direct the correspondence respecting the same, and the 
forAvarding of such books to the societies, places, and persons for 
whom they are ordered. He shall report to the Board of Managers, 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 47 

monthly, a statement of the books issued, with their value ; and to 
the Committee on Publications the accounts and statements connect- 
ed with the Depository and the books in it, mentioned and directed 
in the By-laws. He shall arrange and cause to be bound up all the 
correspondence of the Society, and shall place in the Library a copy 
of the first edition of every book printed and published by the So- 
ciety, and a copy of every other edition in which material altera- 
tions shall have been made. He shall direct and superintend the 
issuing of the Annual Keport, Bible Society Kecord, and such other 
documents and circulars as the Board of Managers or committees 
having power may direct. He shall notify the Board of Managers 
and the several committees of the time and place of meeting, and 
cause the notice of the former to be published in one or more news- 
papers, as has heretofore been customary. He shall arrange, direct 
the mode, and superintend the keeping of all the accounts and books 
of account of the Society, except as otherwise provided for ; and 
shall make out, or cause to be made out and duly presented, all 
statements of accounts and inventories directed by the By-laws, and 
not otherwise provided for therein. He shall, under the direction 
of the Committee on Finance, employ a competent book-keeper and 
one or more clerks in his office, as its business may require. 

The General Agent shall be, ex officio, an advisory member of the 
Committees on Finance, Publication, and Legacies. 

Akticle XXIX. — Superintendent of Printing. 

The Society shall continue to employ a Superintendent of Print- 
ing. He shall, under the direction and advice of the General Agent 
and the Committee on Publication, have the immediate charge of 
the printing done by the Society, and, under the like direction, shall 
employ and pay all mechanics and laborers engaged in that branch 
of the business thereof He shall have the immediate charge of that 
part of the machinery and building used for printing, and all things 
connected therewith, and shall keep the same in good order, and see 
that the printing of the Society is done in the best and most econom- 
ical manner. He shall advise the General Agent, when requested, 
in respect to the purchase of all materials and article^ used in print- 
ing, and promote and protect the interests of the Society to the ex- 
tent of his skill and ability. 

Article XXX. — Superintendent of Binding. 

The Society shall also continue to employ a Superintendent of 
Binding. He shall, under the direction of the General Agent and 



48 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the Committee on Publication, have the immediate charge of the 
binding done by the Society, and, under the like direction, shall em- 
ploy and pay all mechanics and laborers engaged in that branch of 
the Society's business. He shall have the immediate charge of that 
part of the machinery and building used for binding, and of all 
things connected therewith, and shall keep the same in good order, 
and see that the binding of the Society is done in the best and most 
economical manner. He shall, when requested, advise the General 
Agent in respect to the purchase of all materials and articles used in 
binding, and promote and protect, to the best of his skill and ability, 
the interests and objects of the Society. 

Article XXXI. — Proof-reader. 

The Society shall employ a Proof-reader. He shall, under the di- 
rection of the Corresponding Secretaries, General Agent, and the 
Committee on Versions, have charge of, and be responsible for, the 
integrity of the text of the English Scriptures printed by or for the 
Society, and shall see that they are all conformable to the standard 
copy now in use. He shall examine the printed sheets with minute 
care, and thus ascertain the state of the stereotype plates, and cause 
them to be corrected and repaired if necessary. He shall read and cor- 
rect the proofs of new plates, and see that they are perfectly accurate. 

Article XXXH. — Messenger. 

The Society shall continue to employ a Messenger, who shall, un- 
der the direction of the General Agent, lodge in the building, take 
care of it, and of the property of the Society, especially at night, and 
perform such reasonable duties as shall be required of him by the 
Corresponding Secretaries, General Agent, Assistant Treasurer, any 
committee of the Society, or the Board of Managers. 

Article XXXIH. — Votes. 

Every member of the Board of Managers may have his vote re- 
corded on any question. 

Article XXXIV. — Order of Proceedings and Business. 

The order of proceedings and business at the stated meetings of 
the Board of Managers shall be as follows, unless otherwise specially 
directed by the Board : 

I. Open at 4^ o'clock, or as soon thereafter as a quorum is pres- 
ent, by reading a portion of Scripture to be selected by the 
presiding officer. 



MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 49 

II. Reading and approving the minutes of the Board of Managers. 
m. Eeports and communications from officers of the Society and 
the Board : 

1. Corresponding Secretaries; 

2. General Agent ; 

3. Treasurer; 

4. Assistant Treasurer. 

rV. Reading and approving the minutes of standing committees : 

1. Finance; 

2. Versions; 

3. Publication; 

4. Distribution; 

5. Agencies; 

6. Legacies; 

7. Nominations; and, 

8. Anniversaries. 

V. Reports from special committees. 
VI. Special orders. 
VH. Unfinished business. 
Vni. Miscellaneous business. 

Article XXXV. — By-laws, 

The Board of Managers shall not make, alter, or amend any By- 
law, except at the regular monthly meeting thereof, nor at the same 
meeting at which such By-law, alteration, or amendment is proposed. 

Article XXXVI. — Repealing Act. 

All By-laws and Regulations heretofore passed or adopted by the 
Board of Managers, and which are inconsistent with the preceding 
By-laws, are hereby repealed. 

Of all the officers first appointed, nineteen in num- 
ber, including its president, fourteen vice-presidents, 
three secretaries, and treasurer, not one survives, and 
not more than two or three of its first, managers. 
"They rest from their labors, and their works follow 
them." 

The society, from the commencement, has used the 
most scrupulous economy in husbanding all its re- 
sources for the purpose of multiplying copies of the 

D 



50 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Word of Life. It has no permanent funds, and de- 
sires to have none. "Whatever is received by dona- 
tion, legacy, or otherwise, is immediately converted 
into Bibles and Testaments, and put in circulation. 
All the managers and officers, with the exception of 
those who devote their exclusive time in the service 
of the society, such as the Corresponding Secretary, 
General Secretaries, and General Agent, perform their 
duties gratuitously. 

The following are the present officers and managers 
of the society: 

President. 
Hon. Theodore Feelinghuysen, LL.D., New Jersey. 

Vice-Presidents. 
Hon. Heman Lincoln, Massachusetts. 
Hon. Egbert P. Dunlap, Maine. 

Hon. John M'Lean, Justice Supreme Court U. S., Ohio. 
Hon. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, South Carolina. 
Hon. Joaquin Mosquera, New Grenada. 
Thomas Cock, M.D., New York. 
Hon. Peter D. Vroom, New Jersey. . 
Hon. Joseph C. Hornblower, New Jersey. 
John Tappan, Esq., Massachusetts. 
Samuel Rhea, Esq., Tennessee. 
Gen. John H. Cocke, Virginia. 
Hon. William Jay, New York. 
Hon. John M'Pherson Berrien, Georgia. 
Aristarchus Champion, Esq., New York. 
Hon. Allen Trimble, Ohio. 
Hon. Luther Bradish, New York. 
Freeborn Garretson, Esq., New York. 
Hon. W. W. Ellsavorth, Connecticut. 
Hon. Abbott Lawrence, Massachusetts. 
Hon. Edward M'Gehee, IVIississippi. 
Hon. A. B. Hasbrouck, New York. 
George Brown, Esq., Maryland. 
Hon. R. H. Walworth, New York. 
Hon. E. A. Newton, Massachusetts. 
William B. Crosby, Esq., New York. 






MANAGERS AND OFFICERS. 



51 



B. L. Swan, Esq., New York. 
Jajies Lenox, Esq., New York. 
Francis Hall, Esq., New York. 
Myron Phelps, Esq., Illinois. 
Jajies a. Maybin, Esq., Louisiana. 
Matthew T. Scott, Esq., Kentucky. 
Hon. Dayid L. Swain, North Carolina. 
Hon. Joseph H. Lumpein, Georgia. 
Hon. Joseph A. Wright, Indiana. 

Secretaries. 
Rev. John C. Brigham, D.D. 
Rev. Joseph Holdich, D.D. 
Rev. Jajvies McNeill. 

Treasurer. 



Assistant Treasurer. 
Henry Fisher. 

General Agent. 
Caleb T. Rowe. 



FIRST CLASS. 

Pelatiah Perit. 
Horace Holden. 
Charles N. Talbot. 
Richard T. Haines. 
James Donaldson. 
A. P. CusnNGS. 
Wm. H. Aspinwall. 
John David Wolfe. 

SCHURElilAN HaLSTED. 
SECOND CLASS. 

Timothy Hedges. 
Edavard Richardson. 
Cornelius Du Bois. 
Nathaniel Richards. 
Frederick T. Peet. 
Isaac Wood, M.D. 
Chandler Starr. 
Washington R. Vermilte. 
E. J. Woolsey. 



thied class. 
George D. Phelps. 
James L. Phelps, M.D. 
Charles Tracy. 

G. P. DiSOSAVAY. 

James Suydam. 
A. R. Walsh. 
Alfred Edwards. 
Alex. Van Rensselaer. 
Jonathan Sturges. 

rOrRTH CLASS. 

Najah Taylor. 
Norman White. 
William Forrest. 
Anson G. Phelps. 
F. S. Winston. 
Ralph Mead. 
Archibald Russell. 
f. h. wolcott. 
James W. Dominick. 



52 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



Standing Committees. 

FINANCE. 

Frederick S. Winston. 
Norman White. 
George D. Phelps, 
a. p. cumings. 
W. R. Vershlye. 
John David Wolfe. 
Ja]vies Suydam. 



VERSIONS. 

Rev. Gardiner Spring, D.D. 
Rev. S. H. Turner, D.D. 
Rev. E. Robinson, D.D. 
Rev. T. E. Vermilye, D.D. 
Rev. R. S. Storrs, D.D. 
Rev. James Floy, D.D. 
Thomas Cock, M.D. 

PUI^LICATION. 

Najah Taylor. 
Francis Hall. 
Frederick T. Peet. 
Ralph Mead. 
A. Robertson Walsh. 
Charles N. Talbot. 
Cornelius Du Bois. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

Rev. Isaac Ferris, D.D. 
Rev. G. T. Bedell. 
James L. Phelps, M.D. 
Timothy Hedges. 
Pelatiah Perit. 
Chandler Starr. 

F. H, WOLCOTT. 



AGENCIES. 

Rev. Thomas De Witt, D.D. 
Rev. John M. Krebs. 
Wm. Forrest. 
Rev. J. W. M'Lane, D.D. 
Rev. John M. Reid. 
Alfred Edwards. 
Archibald Russell. 

LEGACIES. 

Horace Holden. 

B. L. Swan. 

Luther Bradish. 

Nathaniel Richards. 

Isaac Wood, M.D. 

James Suydam. 

Alex. Van Rensselaer. 

NOMINATION. 

Luther Bradish. 

B. L. Swan. 

James Suydam. 

Francis Hall. 

Rev. G. B. Cheever, D.D. 

Norman White. 

Isaac Wood, M.D. 

ANNIVERSARIES. 

Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, D.D. 
Rev. Bishop Janes. 
Rev. Wm. Adams, D.D. 
Rev. D. BiGLER. 
Rev. M. S. HuTTON, D.D. 
Rev. J. W. Alexander, D.D. 
William B. Crosby. 



AUDITING COMMITTEE. 

Frederick T. Peet. 
Chandler Starr. 
Anson G. Phelps. 



BIBLE HOUSE. 



53 



CHAPTER V. 

BIBLE HOUSE. 

When the Constitution was adopted and the officers 
alected, there was not one dollar in the treasury. The 
society had neither Bihle House nor Bibles, nor mate- 
rials for making them. The managers, however, rely- 
ing upon the goodness of the cause, in humble trust 
in the God of the Bible, immediately went to work in 
procuring materials and devising plans for its early 
publication. Through the liberality of the governors 
of the New York Hospital and the mayor of the city, 
they were allowed the use of rooms in which they 
transacted their business. They were also accommo- 
dated by the Historical Society in the New York In- 
stitution. Several printers volunteered to publish gra- 
tuitously any communications they deemed it neces- 
sary to make to the public. The managers procured 
three sets of stereotype plates in octavo, and three in 
duodecimo form. Applications for Bibles were made 
from auxiliaries, which had to be supplied by the New 
York Bible Society, This society, together with the 
New York Auxiliary Bible Societies, presented the 
managers with a complete set of stereotype plates of 
the duodecimo size and brevier type, and also all the 
copies in sheets of the French Bible in their posses- 
sion. A donation of five hundred pounds sterling was 
received from the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
A standing committee of five was appointed to take 
charge of all the property of the society, except the 
funds in the hands of the treasurer, with power to 
direct all the affairs and concerns of the society during 



54 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the recess of the Board of Managers ; to enter into all 
necessary contracts, give orders for the delivery of 
Bibles, and orders on the treasurer for the payment of 
money. They had now gotten fairly under way ; the 
first year of their labors had closed ; and the success of 
the institution being no longer problematical, they 
were excited to renewed energy and perseverance. 

One of the first things that engaged the delibera- 
tions of the managers was the location of the surplus 
stereotype plates. On this subject a considerable de- 
gree of anxiety was manifested, as some questions of 
delicacy were involved in its consideration. The 
managers were fully impressed with the importance 
of giving every possible aid to the circulation of the 
Scriptures in distant parts of the country, and they 
were equally convinced of the necessity of guarding 
against whatever might excite local embarrassments, 
and of preserving unimpaired the unity of the national 
society, and the freedom of its agency through all its 
ramifications. They adopted certain principles as the 
basis of their proceedings in regard to this subject. 
After mature deliberation, in which the policy of the 
measure was strongly contested, on the ground that, 
should' the society distribute these plates among the 
auxiliaries, local prejudices might arise afiecting, if 
not in the end destroying, the nationality of the insti- 
tution, and also on the ground of the risk to be run, 
and the expensiveness of having two presses estab- 
lished: it was finally determined, as the best that 
could be done, to send an octavo and duodecimo set to 
the Kentucky Bible Society, located at Lexington, 
this society having been promised one of the duo- 
decimo sets previously. 

The conditions required on the part of the Ken- 
tucky Bible Society were the following : 

" The society were to hold the plates as the property 



BIBLE HOUSE. 55 

of thc; American Bible Society, to be removed at the 
pleasva'e of the board, whenever they can be more ad- 
vanta[[eously used elsewhere ; and that they print 
from them, at their own expense, as many Bibles as 
they think proper for gratuitous distribution or sale 
within their own district exclusively, rendering to the 
board a particular account of the number and cost of 
the Bibles printed and distributed by them. In con- 
sideration of the gratuitous use of the plates, they were 
required to print, bind, and distribute, at the expense 
of the board, and agreeably to their orders, as many 
Bibles as they should from time to time direct." 

The Kentucky Bible Society acceding to these stip- 
ulations, the plates were sent, and they continued to 
print therefrom until 1822, when it was deemed expe- 
dient to have all the printing done at New York. 
The affairs of the society were carried on, and the 
several species of their property were kept in a small 
depository, and, for want of room, in several other 
places. The value of the property being such, and 
the continual jeopardy of a large proportion of it; the 
advanced premium of insurance consequent thereon ; 
the time lost in traveling from place to place, and the 
labor incurred by this perplexing mode of superintend- 
ing different parts of the same business, added to the 
daily increase of all these evils, induced the managers to 
concentrate their business into a single establishment, 
either under one roof, or in buildings contiguous to 
each other. They would have preferred owning a suit- 
able edifice, as insuring greater permanency and a more 
perfect control ; but the amount of funds necessary for 
such a purpose, and the infant state of the society, did 
not warrant the undertaking, and they continued to 
occupy a hired house. The managers labored under 
these embarrassments for some time, and at length the 
propriety of erecting a Bible House was fully discuss- 



56 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



ed, and resulted in a unanimous agreement, as soon 
as circumstances would admit, to engage in its erec- 
tion. In 1822 the corner stone was laid, and the 
building was finished in the early part of the winter 
of the same year. 

The Bible House embraces fifty feet front upon 
Nassau street, and extends back thirty feet, when it is 
contracted to the breadth of thirty feet, and runs sev- 
enty feet with that width to Theater Alley, making 
the whole depth of the building one hundred feet. 
The basement story contains apartments for the ac- 
commodation of the keeper and his family, the large 
rooms for storing printing paper and other property of 
the society, and the requisite vaults for fuel. 

The first floor of the front building comprises a large 
room for the agent's office and biblical library, and 
two smaller ones for the accommodation of the secre- 
taries. The rest of this story, besides the space occu- 
pied by stair-cases, being a room of about sixty-two 
feet by twenty-eight, is devoted to the purpose of a 
depository for Bibles, and is capable of containing one 
hundred thousand Bibles, bound and arranged on 
shelves. On the second story, in front, is the mana- 
gers' room, which is forty-eight feet long by twenty- 
eight wide, and sixteen in height, and plainly but 
neatly furnished. 

The second and third stories of the rear building 
are occupied by the binder, and as a depository for 
printed sheets. The third story of the front building, 
with the fourth of the rear, which together form one 
room, as also the garret, are occupied by the printer 
to the society. 

The ground on which the Bible House stands, with 
the building, cost twenty -two thousand ^Ye hundred 
dollars, the most of which was obtained by donations 
from liberal individuals for this specific object. 



BIBLE HOUSE. 



57 



All the business of the society could now be con- 
ducted under one roof. Every record and document 
necessary to be referred to could easily be obtained, 
and thus the various committees were furnished with 
all the facilities required for the prosecution of their 
work. For eight years the society carried on its opera- 
tions with regularity and system ; but so increasing 
were the demands of our own and foreign countries 
for the Bible, that it was found necessary to erect an 
additional building for purposes of printing. The 
printing had been carried on in a building located on 
the opposite side of the street from the Bible House. 
A lot was procured adjoining the Bible House, and 
the erection of two additional buildings commenced. 
They lie north of and adjacent to the Bible House. 
One of them fronts on Nassau street, and is occupied 
as a printing office, four stories high, forty-four feet 
in front and rear, and thirty-four feet in depth. The 
other is also four stories high, fronting on Theater Al- 
ley; it is fifty-six feet in length, and thirty feet in 
depth, and communicates on each story with the Bi- 
ble House. The whole establishment, including the 
old and new buildings, is ninety-four feet in front on 
Nassau street, and the same in rear on Theater Alley, 
and, including the Depository, thirty-six feet wide and 
four stories high, which connects the front and rear, 
having a depth of one hundred feet, with a court in the 
center. Under the right wing of the Bible House is 
a fire-proof vault for the safe keeping of the stereotype 
plates. The entire building is fire-proof throughout. 
Sixteen years have elapsed since the erection of these 
last buildings, and the society has gone on operating 
with efficiency in every department. 

Eight patent steam and twenty-two hand presses 
are constantly employed, which print daily about 
two thousand copies of the Bible, the same number 



58 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

being bound and ready for delivery. About two 
hundred and twenty-two hands are employed in the 
various departments of printing and binding. 

In 1851, the inability of the Managers to enlarge 
their oj^erations so as to meet the increasing demands 
for the Scriptures induced them to appoint a special 
committee for the purpose of procuring suitable 
grounds for a new and larger edifice. This commit- 
tee consisted of P. Perit, Norman White, Charles N. 
Talbot, George D. Phelps, and A. Robertson Walsh, 
Esqrs. As a number of contiguous lots were re- 
quired, and in an accessible locality, with an abund- 
ance of light and air, the committee for a time were 
baffled in their efforts, and not a little disheartened. 
At length their attention was called to a plot of 
ground, near the now central part of the city, which 
seemed to be peculiarly adapted to the object which 
they sought. The same impression was made on the 
minds of the Board generally, and, indeed, on all 
friends who gave the matter an examination. As 
another has well observed, "thrice had this site been 
appropriated to other and far different uses, and thrice 
had the arrangements signally failed of consumma- 
tion. An overruling Providence seems to have re- 
served it for its own present and higher purposes." 
The entire plot was purchased, consisting of nearly 
twelve lots, or three quarters of an acre, and a Build- 
ing Committee appointed to arrange without delay 
for covering the whole with a substantial house. This 
committee consisted of George D. Phelps, Norman 
White, Charles N. Talbot, A. Bobertson Walsh, and 
James Suydam, Esqrs., Managers, with the Hon. Lu- 
ther Bradish, one of the Vice-presidents. 

On the 29 th of June, the corner-stone of the new 
building was laid, in the presence of a large assembly. 



BIBLE HOUSE. 59 

Prayer was offered by the Kev. Nathan Bangs, D.D., 
portions of the 119th Psahn were read by the Hev. Dr. 
Ferris, and addresses delivered by the President, the 
Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, the Rev. Dr. Spring, 
Hon. Luther Bradish, and the Rev. Dr. Stiles. 

The following books and documents were deposit- 
ed in the corner-stone : 

1. Copy of one of the first Bibles published by the 
Society in 1817. 

2. Copy of the last Bible published in 1852. 

3. The thirty-six Annual Reports of the Society, 
in four volumes. 

4. The Bible Society Record for the last three years. 

5. Catalogue of the Society's Library. 

6. Report of the Committee on Versions in rela-, 
tion to the late collation of the English Bible. 

7. Report of the Board in regard to the principles 
of making translations. 

8. A programme of the exercises of this occasion, 
with a copy of the President's Address. 

A description of the building, as presented by the 
Building Committee : 

"It is bounded by the Fourth Avenue, Astor Place, 
Third Avenue, and Ninth Street, and is six stories 
high, with cellars and vaults. 

"The front on Fourth Avenue is 198 feet 8 inches, 
on Astor Place 202 feet 10 inches, on Third Avenue 
76 feet 11 inches, and on Ninth Street 232 feet 6 
inches, and fifty feet in depth, having a large area in 
the centre. 

The cellars are ... . 8 feet 6 inches high. * 

First story 12 ''0 " 

Second story 13 "0 " All in the clear, 

Third story 11 " " J- between floors 

Fourth story ..... . 10 " 4 " and ceilings. 

Fifth story 10 " " 

Sixth story 9 " 4 " 



60 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

"The fronts on Fourth Avenue and Astor Place 
are divided into five sections each. The two ends and 
centre sections have a projection of twelve inches in 
front, and also extend above the intermediate sec- 
tions ; and there is also a centre section to the front 
on Ninth Street, with a projection of twelve inches. 
The principal entrance, on Fourth Avenue, is dec- 
orated with four round columns with Corinthian cap- 
itals and moulded bases, resting upon paneled and 
moulded pedestals, and semicircular arches are placed 
between the columns to form the heads of doors, &c., 
and all surmounted with a heavy cornice and segment 
pediment. 

"The whole of the building is faced with Philadel- 
phia pressed brick, and surmounted by a cornice form- 
ed with ornamental trusses, blocks, panels, &c. The 
centre section on Fourth Avenue, and also the centre 
section on Ninth Street and Astor Place, have seg- 
ment pedestals. 

"There are four principal entrances to the build- 
ing, besides others for the operatives. 

"A portion of the first, second, and third stories 
is arranged to be let for offices and stores, until the 
Society may need them. 

"The Managers' Room is located on the second 
story, on Fourth Avenue, and is thirty feet wide by 
fifty feet deep, perfectly fire-proof, and lighted by a 
dome. The room is twenty-five feet high. Imme- 
diately underneath is the room for bound volumes of 
letters, and library, also perfectly fire-proof. 

"The boilers are placed in the inner area, or yard, 
so as not to expose the operatives to danger in case 
of accident. The press-room occupies the fifth and 
sixth stories on Ninth Street, and is one hundred and 
nineteen feet long by forty-one feet in width. The 



BIBLE HOUSE. 61 

whole establishment is so planned that, from the de- 
livery of the paper in Ninth Street, it proceeds reg- 
ularly through its various stages of manufacture, un- 
til it arrives in books in the Depository, with but very 
little labor in hoisting from one story to another. 

"Great attention has been paid to the subject of 
heating and ventilating the various departments. In 
this respect, as well as in all others, the committee 
have aimed to erect a building adapted in all its parts 
to the purposes for which it is wanted, and worthy of 
the Holy Book for whose universal dissemination the 
American Bible Society is laboring." 

This noble edifice, erected for the best of all pur- 
poses, and at a considerable expense (some $250,000, 
with the ground), has not, as the Managers would emr 
phatically state, been put up at the cost of those in 
city or country who gave their funds for Bible dis- 
tribution. A strict and separate account of the build- 
ing fund has been and is still kept. The avails of 
the former house (which house doubled in value while 
in the hands of the Board), with about sixty thou- 
sand dollars specially contributed the past year, have 
gone far toward paying for the new edifice. The 
debt yet remaining will, it is believed, be eventually 
removed by means of the income of the stores and 
offices now rented. Should the demand for the 
Scriptures so increase that the Managers may require 
the rented portions for the Society^s use before the 
debt is paid, they hesitate not to predict that the cit- 
izens of New York will cheerfully contribute, as be- 
fore, and remove any debt which may remain, with- 
out touching the ordinary income. 

For several years past, in preparing 700,000 or 
800,000 Bibles and Testaments per annum, they have 
taxed the former house to its utmost capacity. There 



62 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

was no room for enlargement in printing and bind- 
ing, none for the storage of books or of paper. They 
could hardly urge increased applications for books. 
But now circumstances are widely different. They 
feel confident that, with the Divine blessing, they can 
now prepare copies, even to the extent of millions 
per annum, if the means to manufacture and the 
hands to distribute them are provided. 

In regard to the printing of Bibles, reference has 
already been made to the more early operations of the 
society ; we think it proper to embrace under one 
head all the transactions of the society up to this time, 
in regard to the kind and qualities of Bibles and Test- 
aments printed and bound at the Bible House. 

A set of stereotype plates of the French Bible was 
received from the British and Foreign Bible Society, 
in lieu of j^art of their donation : this, in conjunction 
with the six sets procured by the society, and the one 
presented by the New York Bible Society, constituted 
all they had during the first year of the society''s op- 
erations. At the end of the third year the managers 
report that they had in possession eight sets of stere- 
otype plates for the whole Bible, and two sets for the 
New Testament, in addition to plates for the New 
Testament in Indian and Spanish. In 1822 the so- 
ciety procured two sets of stereotype plates of the New 
Testament in the brevier type and the 18mo size. In 
1824 a set of stereotype plates was procured for an 
octavo edition of the New Testament in pica type. In 
1833 plates were cast for a modern Greek Testament. 

In 1834, two new Bibles, with marginal references, 
the one a quarto, and the other a royal octavo. In 
1835 a new duodecimo reference Bible was printed, 
adapted to the use of Bible-classes and Sabbath- 
schools. 



BIBLE HOUSE. 63 

In 1837, a pocket Testament in the German lan- 
guage, in tlie Spanish language, and one in diamond 
type in English, were stereotyped. 

In 1838, a new pica Testament, with the Book of 
Psalms, in octavo form, was stereotyped, and also a 
Testament for the blind, by which that large and in- 
teresting 23ortion of the community is brought in con- 
tact with the "Word of God, and by means of which 
they can now feel after him, and find him to the joy 
of their hearts. 

In 1839 a set of stereotype plates was cast for a 
new Portuguese Testament. 

In 1840, a new English octavo Bible in long prim- 
er, and a new duodecimo French Bible in brevier. 

A reprint of the Annual Reports of the first twenty- 
two years of the society's operations was published 
this year, and bound in one large octavo volume. 

In 1841 the managers printed a "Brief View of 
the Plan of Operations of the American Bible Soci- 
ety, " in a small pamphlet, for gratuitous distribution 
among those who are engaged in promoting the Bible 
cause. They also printed a "Statement as to the 
Character of Foreign Versions of the Scriptures pat- 
ronized by them." 

In 1843, the managers, at great expense, had stereo- 
type plates prepared of the entire Bible for the blind. 

In 1844, the New Testament was printed in the 
Ojibwa tongue, for the use of a large tribe of Indians 
near Lake Superior. 

In 1846 the managers prepared plates and issued 
an 18mo minion Bible, after a well-known Oxford 
Bible of that size. 

In 1847 two sets of plates were procured for the 
pocket New Testament. 

A new Portuguese Bible, of large duodecimo size. 



64 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

was also printed for tlie benefit of the numerous Por- 
tuguese seamen in our various ports, as well as for 
the multitudes in Brazil and elsewhere who use that 
tongue. 

In 1848, plates for a new pearl reference Bible, a 
new nonpareil, or Sunday-school Bible, and for a 
new pocket Testament, were cast. 

Also for a Danish Bible, for the use of Norwegian 
immigrants ; a New Testament, in parallel columns 
of German and English, for the use of German im- 
migrants who are in need of the Scriptures, and de- 
sirous to learn the English language; and one in 
Dutch and English, for the use of immigrants from 
Holland, and also New Testaments in the Grebo and 
Arawack tongues, for those speaking that language 
in Western Africa and South America. A Testament 
has been stereotyped for the use of the Choctaws. ^ 

In 1849, a Danish Bible, and Gospel of Luke in 
Grebo. 

In 1850, the Book of Acts in the Arawack 

In 1851, a new large pica Testament, with Psalms ; 
Spanish Bible ; Common School Testament, 24mo ; 
small diamond 64mo Testament in Swedish and En- 
glish. 

In 1852, a royal octavo Bible, large pica ; parts of 
the Old Testament in Choctaw ; Gospel of John in 
Grebo. 

In 1853, a bourgeois Bible, octavo, brevier 12mo, 
agate 24mo ; Gospel of John in Mpongwe. 

In 1854, a nonpareil Bible, 24mo. 

In 1855, a German Bible, octavo; a Spanish New 
Testament ; a new translation of the New Testament 
in "Welsh and English. 



ACTS OF INCORPORATION. 



65 



CHAPTER VI. 



ACTS OF INCORPORATION. 



By the following acts of the Legislature of the State 
of New York, the property of the institution is secure, 
and all bequests made to it will reach their intended 
object by adherence to the following form: 

''I give and bequeath to the American Bible So- 
ciety, formed in New York in the year eighteen hund- 
red and sixteen, the sum of (or real estate, as the 

case may be), to be applied to the charitable uses and 
purposes of said society." 

Act of the Legislature of New York in relation to the Society's 
Property. 

The real estate upon which the Society's buildings are situated was 
conveyed, when purchased by the Society, in fee simple to five indi- 
viduals as joint tenants, who thereupon executed a declaration of trust, 
setting forth, among other things, that they held said property in trust 
for the American Bible Society, and that they, or the survivors of 
them, would at any time convey said premises as the Board of Man- 
agers of said Society should direct. Two of said trustees have deceas- 
ed, and the survivors being somewhat advanced in years, the board 
deemed it advisable to have a new conveyance made for the purpose 
of perpetuating the trust. The laws of this state having been revised 
smce the said deeds of trust were made, and similar trusts, that should 
thereafter be created, having been declared void, it became a serious 
question whether the proposed new conveyance would not come with- 
in the Revised Statutes, and thus be void. To supersede this ques- 
tion, the board considered it the most prudent course to apply to the 
Legislature for an act of incorporation, and that, when incorporated, 
the surviving trustees should convey to the Society as a corporate body. 
Accordingly, a committee was appointed by the board to make the ap- 
plication. An act of incorporation was drafted and forwarded to the 
Legislature ; but it met with so much opposition, that, at the sugges- 
tion of some of the opposers of the bill, a special act was prepared and 

E 



gg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

substituted in its place. This was passed without opposition ; and un- 
der its provisions the board will be enabled to continue the property in 
trust according to its original design. The Act is as follows : 

An Act to confirm certain Trusts therein mentioned, 

[Passed February 21, 1837.] 

The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows : 

S 1. The trusts declared in and by two certain deeds or declarations 
of trust executed by Richard Varick, William W. Woolsey, Samuel 
Boyd, Benjamin Strong, and John Watts, Jun., the one bearing date 
on the twenty-eighth day of December, one thousand eight hundred 
and twenty-one, and recorded in the office of register in and for the city 
and county of New York, in liber 164 of Conveyances, page 115, and 
the other bearing date on the first day of May, one thousand eight 
hundred and twenty-nine, and recorded in the said office in liber 257 
of Conveyances, page 226, and relating to certain real estate in the 
city of New York, purchased for the benefit of a society or association 
known by the name of the American Bible Society, are hereby con- 
firmed, and it shall be lawful to execute the same and to appoint new 
trustees in the manner in the said deeds mentioned. 

k 2. This Act shall take effect immediately on its passage. 

An Act to Incorporate the American Bible Society. 

[Passed March 25, 1841.] 

The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and 
Assembly, do enact as follows : 

§ 1. All such persons as now are or may hereafter become members 
of the American Bible Society, formed in the city of New York in the 
year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, shall be and are hereby 
constituted a body corporate, by the name of " The American Bible 
Society," for the purpose of publishing and promoting a general circu- 
lation of the Holy Scriptures without note or comment. 

§ 2. The nett income of said Society arising from their real estate 
shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars annually. 

§ 3. This corporation shall possess the general powers and be subject 
to the provisions contained in title third of chapter eighteenth of the 
first part of the Revised Statutes, so far as the same are applicable and 
have not been repealed.^ 

* General powers contained in title third of chapter eighteenth of the first part 
of the Revised Statutes, and given to " The American Bible Society" by the third 
section of the act incorporating that Society : 

1st. To have succession by its corporate name perpetually. 

2d. To sue and be sued, complain or defend in any court of law or equity. 



ACTS OF INCORPORATION. • gj 

§ 4. This Act shall take effect immediately. 

§ 5. The Legislature may at any time modify or repeal this Act. 

State of New York, Secretary's Office. 
I have compared the preceding with an original act of the Legisla- 
ture of this state on file in this office, and do certify that the same is a 
correct transcript therefrom and of the whole of said original. 

Given under my hand and the seal of this office, at the city 
(L.S.) of Albany, the second day of April, in the year of our Lord 
one thousand eight hundred and forty-one. 

Arch'd. Campbell, Deputy Secretary. 

The following proceedings were taken by the so- 
ciety at the next stated annual meeting after the pas- 
sage of the act of incorporation : 

An Ordinance to establish a Board of Managers, and for other 
Purposes. 

The American Bible Society do ordain as follows : 

1st. The business of this corporation shall be conducted by a Board 
of Managers, constituted and appointed in like manner as prescribed 
by the Constitution under which the American Bible Society acted 
immediately before its incorporation, in relation to the Board of Man- 
agers therein mentioned. 

2d. The Managers who were members of the said board at the time 
of the said incorporation (except those whose time of service has expir- 
ed), shall continue in office during the terms for which they were re- 
spectively elected. And all persons who at the time of such incorpora- 
tion were officers of the said Society, shall continue to hold their re- 
spective offices during the pleasure of the said board. 

3d. The Board of Managers shall have power to appoint all officers 
of the Society, and to allow to such of them as they may think proper 
a suitable compensation ; to purchase and hold such real and personal 
estate as may be permitted by the charter ; to cause to be made and 
to use a common seal for the corporation, and to make by-laws not in- 
consistent with the laws of this state ; and they shall have such fur- 

3d. To make and use a common seal, and alter the same at pleasure. 

4tli. To hold, purchase, and convey such real and personal estate as the pur- 
poses of the corporation shall require, not exceeding the amount limited in its 
charter. 

5th. To appoint such subordinate officers and agents as the business of the cor- 
poration shall require, and to allow them a suitable compensation. 

6th. To make by-laws, not inconsistent with any existing law, for the manage- 
ment of its property and the regulation of its afiairs. 



(58 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

ther powers as were given by the said Constitution to the Board of 
Managers therein mentioned. Ten members of the Board of Mana- 
gers shall be a sufficient number to form a board for the transaction of 
business, and every decision of a majority of the persons duly assembled 
as a board shall be valid. 

The Act and Ordinance were severally adopted. 



CHAPTER VII. 

PKINTING, PUBLICATION, AND CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 

The first field, both in regard to order and import- 
ance, in the estimation of the society, in reference to 
occupancy and cultivation, vi^as the Home Field. 

Its first work was to supply the destitute population 
of this country with the Holy Scriptures. 

During the first year of the society's operations, 
eleven thousand five hundred and fifty copies of the 
Bible were printed, and six thousand four hundred 
and ten copies were sent out from the Depository and 
distributed all over the country, from Maine to G-eorgia, 
and from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, carrying joy 
and gladness to the destitute in many desolate places. 

The first donation made by the board was to the 
East Tennessee Bible Society, of ^yq hundred Bibles 
for the destitute in that region. 

The society resolved, at a very early period in its 
history, to distribute no Bibles gratuitously except 
through the auxiliaries, as the proper media of its 
benefactions. This wise regulation it has faithfully 
adhered to until the present time. 

The second year closed its labors, and the board 
were enabled to make the gratifying announcement to 
the friends and patrons of the institution, that twenty 
thousand four hundred Bibles had been printed, and 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 



69 



seventeen thousand five hundred and ninety-four were 
issued from the Depository, Avhile one thousand liye 
hundred paid twenty-one had been gratuitously dis- 
tributed by the auxiliaries. 

The next year, 1819, the number of books printed 
was seventy-one thousand three hundred and twenty. 
The number issued from the Depository was thirty-one 
thousand one hundred and eighteen. There were 
also printed, in the Gaelic, Welsh, German, French, 
and several Indian languages, two thousand four 
hundred and fifty. The number gratuitously distribu- 
ted during the year was between four and five thou- 
sand. 

In 1820 the number of Bibles printed was sixty- 
four thousand four hundred and eighty-two, and tl;ie 
number issued was forty-one thousand five hundred 
and thirteen, which, added to those issued in the Ger- 
man, Spanish, Gaelic, French, Welsh, and Indian lan- 
guages, amounted to ninety-seven thousand one hund- 
red and two. The number gratuitously distributed 
this year was eighteen thousand six hundred and 
seventeen. 

In 1821 the number of Bibles printed was fifty-nine 
thousand eight hundred, and the number issued was 
sixty-eight thousand one hundred and seventy-seven, 
in eight different languages, of which number thirteen 
thousand seven hundred and six were gratuitously 
distributed. 

In 1822 the number printed was thii-ty-six thousand 
six hundred and twenty-five. This was the year the 
society removed to the new house. The issues were 
fifty-fom' thousand eight hundred and six, in the vari- 
ous languages above enumerated. Of this number 
twelve thousand nine hundred and twenty-three were 
gratuitously circulated. 

In 1823 the number printed was fifty-three thou- 



70 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

sand six hundred. Issues, fifty-four thousand eight 
hundred and ^ve. The numher gratuitously distribu- 
ted this year was twelve thousand three hundred and 
twenty-five. 

In 1824 the numher printed was seventy-seven 
thousand ^yb hundred and seventy-five, and the 
issues amounted to sixty thousand four hundred and 
thirty-nine, in the usual languages. Of this numher 
fourteen thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine 
were gratuitously distributed through the appropriate 
channels. Two hundred Bibles were donated to the 
United States army, on the application of an officer 
of high rank. 

In 1825 the number printed was forty-eight thou- 
sand five hundred and fifty, and the issues the same 
year were sixty-three thousand eight hundred and 
fifty-one. Of the above number nineteen thousand 
six hundred and twenty-three were distributed gratui- 
tously. 

In 1826 the number published was eighty-one thou- 
sand, and the issues sixty-seven thousand one hund- 
red and thirty-four. Of this number, in the various 
languages, in our own country, and the West Indies, 
Sandwich Islands, Mexico, and South America, there 
were gratuitously distributed sixteen thousand five 
hundred and forty-seven. 

In 1827, seventy-six thousand seven hundred and 
thirty-four were printed, and the issues amounted to 
seventy-one thousand six hundred and twenty-one. 
Thirteen thousand one hundred and sixty-nine were 
gratuitously circulated. 

1828. There were printed this year one hundred 
and eighteen thousand seven hundred and fifty, and 
issued one hundred and thirty-four thousand six hund- 
red and seven. Distributed gratuitously, seven thou- 
sand two hundred and sixty. 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 72. 

1829. The number printed was, during this year, 
three hundred and sixty thousand. Issues, two hund- 
red thousand one hundred and twenty-two. Gratui- 
tously distributed, eight thousand four hundred and 
sixty-five. 

1830. There was printed this year three hundred 
and eight thousand. Issued, two hundred and thirty- 
eight thousand five hundred and eighty-three. Dis- 
tributed gratuitously, fifty thousand three hundred 
and forty-nine. 

In 1831 there were printed two hundred and sev- 
enty thousand. Two hundred and forty -two thousand 
were issued from the Bible House, and thirty-nine 
thousand were gratuitously distributed. 

In 1832 one hundred and fifty-six thousand five 
hundred were printed, one hundred and fifteen thou- 
sand eight hundred and two were issued, and eighteen 
thousand nine hundred and thirty-one were distribu- 
ted gratuitously. 

1833. This year the financial condition of the soci- 
ety was such as to justify the printing of but few Bi- 
bles, and in view of this, the numbers being so unim- 
portant, they were not made a matter of record. The 
work of distribution, however, was carried on, and the 
issues amounted to ninety-one thousand one hundred 
and sixty-eight, and the gratuitous distribution to 
twelve thousand and seven. 

In 1834 the number printed was one hundred and 
forty-nine thousand three hundred and seventy-five. 
Issues, one hundred and ten thousand eight hundred 
and thirty-two. Gratuitous distribution, nineteen 
thousand and seventy-six. 

In 1835 the number printed was thirty-four thou- 
sand. Issued, one hundred and twenty-three thou- 
sand two hundred and thirty-six. Gratuitous distri- 
bution, thirty -three thousand four hundred and eighty- 
eight. 



Y2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

In 1836 the number printed was one hundred and 
ninety-four thousand. Issued, two hundred and 
twenty-one thousand six hundred and ninety-four. 
Gratuitously distributed, seventy-eight thousand four 
hundred and eighty-nine. 

In 1837 the number printed was two hundred and 
twenty-eight thousand. Issued, two hundred and six 
thousand two hundred and forty. Gratuitous dis- 
tribution, one hundred and forty-six thousand nine 
hundred. 

In 1838 one hundred and forty- two thousand were 
printed, one hundred and fifty-eight thousand issued, 
and thirty-four thousand four hundred gratuitously 
distributed. 

In 1839 the number printed was one hundred and 
fourteen thousand. Issued, one hundred and thirty- 
four thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven. Gra- 
tuitously distributed, eight thousand nine hundred. 

In 1840 the number printed was one hundred and 
thirty-nine thousand. Issued, one hundred and fifty- 
seven thousand two hundred and sixty-one. Gra- 
tuitously distributed, fifteen thousand four hundred. 

In 1841 the number printed was one hundred and 
sixty-six thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. 
Issued, one hundred and fifty thousand two hundred 
and two. Gratuitously distributed, nine thousand 
eight hundred. 

In 1842 the number printed was two hundred and 
seventy-six thousand. The number issued, two hund- 
red and fifty-seven thousand and sixty-seven. The 
number gratuitously distributed, one hundred and 
nine thousand two hundred. 

In 1843 the number printed was two hundred and 
twenty thousand. Issued, two hundred and sixteen 
thousand six hundred and five. Gratuitously dis- 
tributed, one hundred and eight thousand. 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 73 

In 1844 the number printed was two hundred and 
ninety-three thousand. Issued, three hundred and 
fourteen thousand five hundred and eighty-two. Gra- 
tuitously distributed, twenty-three thousand eight 
hundred. 

In 1845 the number was four hundred and seven- 
teen thousand three hundred and fifty. Issued, four 
hundred and twenty-nine thousand and ninety-two. 
Gratuitously distributed, forty thousand six hundred 
and fifty-six. 

In 1846 the number was four hundred and eighty- 
two thousand. Issued, four hundred and eighty-three 
thousand eight hundred and seventy-three. Gratui- 
tously distributed, forty-seven thousand one hundred 
and fifty-nine. 

In 1847 the number was six hundred and seventy- 
one thousand five hundred. Issued, six hundred and 
twenty-seven thousand seven hundred and sixty-four. 
Gratuitously distributed, sixty-six thousand and nine- 
ty-seven. 

In 1848 the number printed was seven hundred and 
sixty thousand nine hundred. The number issued 
was six hundred and Jifty -Jive thousand and sixty -six. 
Gratuitously distributed, seventy-nine thousand six 
hundred and seventy -eight. 

In 1849 the number of Bibles and Testaments is- 
sued was five hundred and sixty-four thousand seven 
hundred and twenty-three. 

In 1850 the number issued was six hundred and 
thirty-three thousand three hundred and ninety-five. 

In 1851 the number was five hundred and ninety- 
two thousand four hundred and thirty-three. 

In 1852 it was six hundred and sixty-six thousand 
and fifteen. 

In 1853, the Bibles and Testaments printed num- 
bered eight hundred and forty-one thousand five hund- 



74 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

red, and the number issued was seven hundred and 
ninety-nine thousand three hundred and seventy. 

In 1854 the whole number issued was eight hund- 
red and fifteen thousand three hundred and ninety- 
nine. 

In the year 1855, the number of Bibles and Testa- 
ments printed was nine hundred and one thousand 
four hundred, and the number issued was seven 
hundred and forty-nine thousand eight hundred 
and forty-six, the price of which was estimated at 
$243,583 09. 

The entire amount of the circulation of the Scrip- 
tures by the Society since its organization has been 
ten millions six hundred and fifty-three thousand six 
hundred and forty-seven. 

Notwithstanding much has been done in supplying 
our native and foreign population, much yet remains 
to do. In a population of twenty -two millions, there 
is, at the least calculation, one million five hundred 
thousand destitute, and they must be supplied. It 
can not be that they shall be left to '^perish ivithout 
the law'^ when the Church possesses the means to sup- 
ply them. 

Through its faithful allies, the auxiliaries, the so- 
ciety has sent the Bible into every nook and corner of 
our land. It has circulated it in every state and ter- 
ritory, in every county, and city, and village. • In the 
Sabbath school and common school, in the college and 
seminary ; in the hotel and asylum, and hospital and 
prison; among soldiers, a-nd sailors, and slaves; on 
sea and on land, at home and abroad, every where has 
it, in its beneficence, sent the Gospel of salvation. 

The society does not think it strange that in this 
work of mercy it has met with opposition, inasmuch 
as its Divine Author himself was persecuted and cru- 
cified. 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 75 

Its principal opponents are the Eoman Catholic 
priests, who, assuming to dictate to the members of that 
Chm'ch in all matters of faith and practice, prohibit 
them from reading it, and have gone so far as to burn 
the Bible in this land of ''freedom to worship God." 

Political demagogues have been found ready to co- 
alesce with the Roman Catholic Chiu'ch for the pur- 
pose of carrying any measure that Church might adopt 
with the hope of securing its influence in a political 
point of view- — men who would be willing to sacrifice 
all that is dear in religious liberty, so that they might, 
in the end, attain political power. We are happy to 
be able to state that this language does not apply to 
any party, much less to the people of this country, 
who, in the main, are deeply imbued with the spirit of 
liberty, but to a few whose selfish ambition would! 
lead them to advocate principles favorable to their in- 
terests, right or wrong. An efibrt was made a few 
years since by a Roman Catholic bishop in one of 
om' large cities to exclude the Bible from the com- 
mon schools. This same bishop has figured extensive- 
ly in the political world ; and having a face to suit all 
political phases, at one time you hear him haranguing 
the multitude in the behalf of oppressed Ireland, the 
loudest in the cry of " Repeal or blood," but, tempora 
mutantur! and you hear him again lifting his voice in 
opposition to the patriotic movements of the masses 
of oppressed Italy. 

The citizens of this country must be taxed to edu- 
cate poor Roman Catholic children in the doctrines 
of their Church. In other words, the funds, nearly all 
of which are collected from Protestants, must be di- 
vided, and the Roman Catholics must have their pro- 
portion in accordance with the number of their chil- 
dren. The common school system of instruction in this 
country is pernicious ; the Bible must be expelled, and 



76 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



all the text-books expurgated ; and Roman Catholic 
teachers must be employed ere this rapacious Church 
can be satisfied. 

When it was said, " This is a Protestant country, 
and we are willing the children of Roman Catholics 
shall fare equally with ours," this same bishop openly 
declared ''^Y was notT He might have been ignorant 
of the fact that the first Congress printed and circu- 
lated the Bible. Had he been as conversant with the 
history of this country as he is with monkish legends 
and Latin masses, he certainly would have known the 
views entertained by the Congress of 1774 in relation 
to this subject, and their opinion of his Church, when, 
in an address to the people of Great Britain, they 
said, '' The dominion of Canada is to be extended ; 
their numbers, daily swelling with Catholic immi- 
grants from Europe, may become formidable to us, 
and reduce the ancient free Protestant colony to a state 
of slavery. Nor can we express our astonishment that 
a British Parliament should ever consent to establish 
in that country a religion that has deluged your island 
in blood, and dispersed impiety, bigotry, persecution, 
murder, and rebellion throughout every part of the 
imrldr 

We rejoice that this is a Protestant country, and we 
do not believe it will ever cease to be a Protestant 
country so long as the '^Word of the Lord has free 
course and is glorified." The Bible will not only pre- 
serve our Protestantism, but is destined to bring up 
priest-ridden, down-trodden Catholic countries to the 
same glorious standard of faith and the same precious 
liberty. Were this a Roman Catholic country, the 
eye would be greeted with announcements like the 
following, and the law made for France, in regard to 
the quality and extent of instruction, would be the 
Jaw of the United States : 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. yjr 

(Official.) 
" University of France — Academy at Bordeaux. 
" The Inspector of the Schools of the Dordogne to the Schoolmasters of 
the Department : 

" Monsieur l'Institutor, — Many of the citres and their assistants 
have reported their schoolmasters as having suffered to be introduced 
into their respective schools Bibles and Testaments which contain doc- 
trines contrary to the true religion. I know that some of the teachers 
have permitted these books to be used because they were deceived by 
the colporteurs, (I) who told them that they were sent by me. I hasten 
to request you to remove those dangerous books from your school. I 
will, without delay, in company with the priest, visit and inspect your 
schools, and every copy of these books that we shall find we will cause 
to be burned. I embrace this opportunity of informing you that from 
this time I will allow only three books in the rural schools, viz., 

"1. The Catechism of the diocese ; 

" 2. A book oi moral lessons, easy to be understood by the children . 

*' 3. A book of arithmetic." 

Well did one of the poets of that Church say, ''Hail, 
holy darkness ! mother of our Church /" A better 
day, however, is dawning upon France. If the Bible 
is excluded from the children, the masses have access 
to it, and the two hundred thousand circulated in all 
parts of that country annually will tend more power- 
fully to impart and strengthen the spirit of liberty 
than all other causes combined, for " where the Spirit 
of God is, there is liberty." 

The Bible is honored with a place in the schools of 
our country, or, rather, it should be said, the schools 
of our land are honored with the Bible. It is the salt 
that will save us, the great conservative principle; 
that which imparts a national conscience and moral- 
ity, and will forever secure to us and to our children 
the blessings of a pure Protestant Christianity. 

The two great arms of national defense, the army 
and navy, are regularly and systematically supplied 
by the society. Thousands upon thousands of copies 
have been sent to our military stations, and with our 



7g AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

armies to foreign lands, to breathe a spirit of peace, 
and break swords into plow-shares, and spears into 
pruning-hooks, teaching the nations to cease their war- 
fare. The thousands of seamen and boatmen upon 
our oceans, lakes, rivers, and canals have been regu- 
larly supplied by the parent society through associa- 
tions specifically designed to operate upon that class 
of the community. Away from home and kindred, 
no companion is so valuable to the sailor as the Bible, 
and numerous instances might be given tending to de- 
monstrate the fact that " the law of the Lord is per- 
fect, converting the soul." Hundreds have been awak- 
ened and converted to God solely through its instru- 
mentality. The soldier has borne it in his knapsack 
on his weary marches and in the deadly strife of bat- 
tle. Wounded and dying, he has pillowed his aching 
head upon this sacred treasure. But more of this in 
another place. 

It being the design of the society to supply the 
whole population of this country, the three millions of 
the colored race in servitude could not be overlooked. 
They must be provided for, and the society, at an early 
period, directed its attention to this work. There were 
various and conflicting opinions in relation to this sub- 
ject, and communications from time to time were 
made to the society, all of which received prompt and 
respectful attention. The managers determined on 
acting in accordance with the general principles and 
settled policy of the society, carefully avoiding any 
thing and every thing that would in the remotest de- 
gree involve a departure from that policy. But, while 
they lost sight of all societies or parties in promoting 
the general objects of the institution, they have done 
all they consistently could do toward supplying the 
slave population with the Word of God. 

During the last two years, a purpose has been 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 



79 



formed by individuals of the northern states to raise 
a large fund, and place it at the disposal of the Ameri- 
can Bible Society for the purpose of furnishing the 
slaves at the South with the Holy Scriptures. This 
plan was imbodied in a circular, and sent round to the 
churches. Funds are being remitted to the treasury 
for this specific object. Various communications were 
addressed to the board urging a hearty co-operation, 
and others desiring to know what views were actually 
entertained by the conductors of the Bible Society on 
this subject. 

The board appointed a large and well-qualified com- 
mittee to investigate the subject at large and report. 
To this committee all the documents bearing upon the 
subject, or in any way connected with it, were refer- 
red. In the month of June, 1847, after several meet- 
ings of the committee, in which the subject passed 
through a patient, protracted, and thorough investiga- 
tion, a report was presented which was highly satis- 
factory to the board, and met the hearty concurrence 
of nearly all the friends of the Bible and the slave. 

That all the friends of the society, north and south, 
may have the action of the board, we present the fol- 
lowing, elicited by a proposition made by the Ameri- 
can Anti-Slavery Society to the board in relation to 
the supply of the slave population with the Bible. The 
committee, after referring to the action of the board in 
1844 and 1845, proceed in their report : 

'-' In looking at this subject at the present time, the committee con- 
sider that there is httle necessity to reaffirm the disposition of the board 
to furnish the Bible to all classes and conditions of men who are capa- 
ble of using it. The above resolutions, and the whole history of their 
operations, show that, so far as this body is concerned, they would glad- 
ly reach forth the Inspired Volume to every child of Adam, and bid him 
read freely. 

" Nor is there occasion to restate at length that the American Bible 
Society is not itself called on or expected to engage in the direct work 



gQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of distribution in any places where auxiliary societies are or can be 
formed. It was the original purpose of the general society to act 
mostly through local auxiliaries ; and these auxiliaries, it must be re- 
membered, are some of them large state institutions, organized before 
the American Bible Society, and became connected with it, as do all 
auxiliaries, by two simple pledges, namely, that they will circulate the 
Scriptures ' without note or comment,' and ' will pay over their surplus 
revenue to the general society.' In all other respects they are inde- 
pendent of this Society, more so, by far, than are the several states in 
our Union in relation to the Federal Government. Those local socie- 
ties often procure and sustain agents themselves, and when furnished 
with them by the parent society, they go only where they are welcom- 
ed by the local societies, and act but in connection with them. And 
this is a state of things which the board, on account of its important 
bearings, would by no means disturb, even if they had the power. 
They wish the auxiliaries every where to feel theii* responsibilities, that 
they are hound to see to the supply of their own districts with as little 
of expense and labor on the part of the parent society as possible. 
Were this board to undertake the work of distribution throughout the 
country, they would require several hundreds of paid agents, while the 
3000 auxiliaries and branch societies which now act with more or less 
efficiency would sink into torpor and soon become extinct. 

" Motives of economy, then, on the part of the parent society, as well 
as the rights of the auxiliaries, require that local distributions should 
be made under the direction of the latter. On these organizations at 
the South devolves the duty, beyond doubt, of supplying the slave pop- 
ulation of that region, so far as this work is to be done. 

" The only new point of inquiry at this time is, How far those aux- 
iliaries are bound, or can reasonably be expected, to supply the popu- 
lation referred to ? 

" On this point the committee claim no right to issue positive in- 
structions ; they can only state their honest convictions as to what 
those auxiliaries ought to do, and then leave them to act as they may 
judge most wise in their circumstances. 

" In stating their convictions, the committee would premise that no 
Bible society in any place is bound to perform all sorts of duty. It is 
an institution for one great simple object. It is not formed for purposes 
of education, or missions, or the correction of civil laws ; but it is form- 
ed for the purpose of circulating the Word of God, without note or com- 
ment, as far as practicable, among all classes and conditions of men 
who are capable of using it. So far as there are colored freemen or 
slaves withni the Umits of an auxiliary, who can be reached, who are 
capable of reading the blessed Word of God, and are without, they 



CIRCULATION OF BIBLES. 



81 



should unquestionably be furnished with it as well as any other class of 
our ruined race. This duty is plain and imperious ; so plain, that the 
'committee know not a society at the South which calls it in question. 

" Many thousands of Bibles and Testaments are sent every year to 
the societies in that quarter, both on order and gratuitously, and ^ome, 
it is well known, go to supply the colored man as well as the white. 
The committee are assured by one of the agents, who has been for two 
years in the service of the Virginia Bible Society, that in supplying 
counties there, he found no more obstacles in the way of furnishing the 
Bible to slaves, when they could read, than to any other class of men. 
One long connected with the North Carolina Bible Society says that 
he remembers no instance where one of that people wished a Bible, 
and could use it, of its being refused him. Nearly the same testimony 
has been given by those comiected with smaller auxiliaries, and by 
agents in other states. 

" Still there is no doubt that more or less of colored persons might 
be found in all those states who could and would make a good use of 
the Bible, but are yet without it. There is need of new attention 1;o 
this duty, as all must admit, and it is hoped that it will early receive 
such attention. No religious object can be more important than this, 
and to none will the conductors of the parent society more cordially 
lend their aid, believing, as they seriously do, in the language of their 
late report, ' that the Word of God is intended for all men, and useful 
to them in every condition of life.' 

" But while the committee speak thus frankly as to the duties of the 
Southern auxiliaries, they would use the same frankness with those at 
the North which are proposing to raise funds for the special purpose of 
supplying slaves with the Bible. While the latter societies seem to 
act from high and pure motives, they evidently labor under several 
misapprehensions in relation to the object so eagerly sought. 

" They proceed in the first place (judging from several communica- 
tions received) as if the Managers of the American Bible Society were 
averse, or at least mdifferent, to the duty of furnishino- the Bible to the 
slave, while no class of the community is the subject of more solicitude 
and careful inquiry. Every opportunity for effecting supplies through 
the proper channels is promptly embraced, and has been for years. 

" In the next place, they seem to labor under the impression that 
great numbers of the slave population can read the Bible, when few, 
ver}^ few, have that ability. Thorough inquiry on this subject would 
satisfy any one that before Bible societies, as such, can effect very 
much, there is a previous work to be done by the schoolmaster or the 
teacher. 

" Another misapprehension is, that if funds can only be raised for 

F ■ 



^2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

supplying slaves with the Bible, the work will be easily accomplished. 
The fact seems to be overlooked that those who hold slaves are usually 
men of property, and could and would purchase books and supply their 
dependent people, if nothing but money were wanting to effect the ob- 
ject. But there is, as stated, an almost universal inability among 
slaves to read, and an indisposition to instruct them equally extensive. 
How are funds in the hands of any Bible society, general or local, to 
remove those obstacles, and how are distributions on any considerable 
scale to be made until they are removed ? Let it be shown that there 
are numerous slaves at the South who can read the Bible and are yet 
without it, whose holders consent to their being supplied, and yet will 
not purchase the books required, then there may, with propriety, be 
large collections made in all parts of the country to meet so important 
a demand ; but, until the way is thus prepared, the committee see not 
how collections to any large amount are to be used in the manner pro- 
posed. Should the providence of God at any time open the door for 
an extended distribution of the Bible among the people referred to, and 
should there be need of general collections to supply the demand, the 
auxiliaries may rest assured that they will be called upon by the par- 
ent board to lend their aid, as they are now called on to supply the des- 
titute of our new settlements, and those in France, Syria, India, and 
China. 

" As the committee have now given their views at length on the 
communications referred to them, as well as the previous resolutions 
and doings of the board on the same general subject, they would close 
by proposing one, and only one, additional resolution : 

" ' Resolved, That while the Managers of the American Bible Soci- 
ty will promptly avail themselves of every opportunity to further the 
distribution of the Bible among the slave population at the South, they 
would respectfully suggest to those who contribute to the income of 
the Society, whether it would be wise to restrict their contributions to 
an object which can only be attained gradually, and the funds for 
which must remain in part unexpended, while others of the human 
family, equally destitute and more accessible, are left unsupplied with 
the Word of God.'" 

The American Bible Society has but one great work 
to perform, and that is, the universal circulation of the 
Scriptures, without note or comment, among all na- 
tions, irrespective of country, caste, or color; and it 
can not travel beyond its appropriate sphere to form a 
coalescence with the American Tract, Colonization, 



BIBLE IN PRISONS. 



83 



Peace, Anti-Slavery, Education, Sunday School, or any 
other societies, be they ever so benevolent or praise- 
worthy. Its very existence depends upon its catho- 
licity and unity ; and so far from this peculiarity in 
its organization and operations forming an objection, 
it should be regarded as the most favorable and valu- 
able type of its character. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

BIBLE IN PRISONS. 



That unfortunate class of our fellow-men who, for 
the violation of the laws of the country, are deprived 
of their personal liberty, shut out from society, and 
perpetually doomed to their own gloomy thoughts a^nd 
the compunctious visitings of guilty consciences, 
which, vulture like, are left to prey upon them in 
their dark and cheerless cells, though suffering the 
just penalty of their crimes, are nevertheless the ob- 
jects of Christian sympathy and labor. The Gospel 
was preached in prisons in the days of the apostles, 
and the blessed Savior inculcated the duty of visiting 
such places with the ministrations of mercy, while 
the last act of his life was the bestowment of salva- 
tion upon a dying thief. Too many appear to think 
that all punishment for crime should be vindictive to 
an extent that excludes all mercy, whereas all pun- 
ishment should partake of the character of that inflict- 
ed by the act of God in this life, reformatory in its 
nature. 

The place of punishment should be one of peni- 
tence and reformation, and all the means productive 
of these ends of a wise government should be enjoyed 



84 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



by those suffering the penalty of violated laws ; hence 
every states' prison should have its chaplain, every 
cell a Bible, and every prisoner religious instruction. 

With these views, the managers of the American 
Bible Society early turned their attention to the sup- 
ply of these institutions of justice. 

Many of the penitentiaries, jails, houses of correc- 
tion and refuge, have been supplied with the Bible by 
the auxiliaries where they are located, an account of 
which is embraced in their respective reports. As it 
would occupy too much space to detail these opera- 
tions, we shall notice only the grants made by the 
parent society to the state prisons. 

In 1834 a donation of two hundred Bibles and Test- 
aments was made to the Auburn State Prison, on the 
request of its chaplain, for the use of the convicts. 

1836. To the same prison, two hundred and twenty- 
five for the use of liberated convicts. 

To the Connecticut State Prison, on request of its 
chaplain, fifty Bibles. 

To the Virginia Bible Society, for Portuguese pirates 
in prison, ten Bibles in the Portuguese language. 

1837. To the Philadelphia Young Men's Bible So- 
ciety, for the use of prisoners, one himdred. 

1843. To the Auburn State Prison, to be distrib- 
uted by chaplain among its inmates, ninety. 

1845. To the same, one hundred and fifty. 

To the prison at Sing Sing, on the request of its 
chaplain, twenty. 

1846. To the New York State Prison, on request 
of its chaplain, to be distributed among the liberated 
convicts, fifty. 

To the Ohio State Prison, for the use of the convicts, 
on the request of the moral instructor, Bev. James B. 
Finley, one huxidred Bibles and Testaments. 

The writer visited this prison in the year 1847, and 



BIBLE IN PRISONS. g5 

had an opportunity of judging from personal observa- 
tion, and full and unreserved conversation with its esti- 
mable warden, Col. Dewey, and the moral instructor, 
the great and permanent moral results effected by the 
reading of the Bible. Many, through its instrumentali- 
ty and that of the instructor, were truly reformed, and 
gave satisfactory evidence of having obtained the par- 
don of their sins. By their confessions, many of their 
accomplices without the prison walls were made 
known, much and valuable property was restored to 
its owners, and the increased industry, and prompt 
and cheerful obedience to the laws of the institution, 
gave the pleasing assurance that the Grospel had 
power to save even the chief of sinners. We were 
kindly invited to visit the Sabbath school, under the 
instruction of benevolent Christian gentlemen, in the 
city of Columbus. 

At the ringing of the bell, the different wards march- 
ed to the chapel, and we had the pleasure of preach- 
ing to four hundred and fifty convicts. The chaplain, 
in closing the exercises, after taking up a collection 
in behalf of the Bible Society, addressed himself to 
the prisoners in the following manner : '' My brethren, 
I know you have nothing to give. Many of you 
would cheerfully contribute did you possess the ability. 
God accepts according to what a man hath; but," 
added he, "I want an expression from you in relation 
to the Bible, and I wish it perfectly voluntary. All 
of you that can say the Bible has been a benefit to 
you, hold up your hands." Instantly every hand in 
that large assembly was thrust up at arm's length. 
The effect of this demonstration upon the officers, and 
ladies and gentlemen from the city, who were present, 
was thrilling; and the silent tear that coursed its way 
down the cheek of many an aged and youthful pris- 
oner, told that the response was from the heart. The 



8(1 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

command of Jesus is to make known the Gospel to 
every creature^ and hence there can be no place this 
side the prison of despair that Christian benevolence 
should not send the Bible. It strikes us that just in 
proportion to man's guilt, wretchedness, and danger, 
should be our efforts to convey to him the means of 
salvation. 



CHAPTER IX. 

BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN AND BOATMEN. 

On the list of the first auxiliaries in 1817 is found 
the name of the Marine Bible Society in New- York, 
the specific object of whose organization was the sup- 
ply of seamen from all quarters frequenting the neigh- 
boring ports with the Chart of Life. 

The following year the board granted to this society 
two hundred and fifty Bibles. 

In 1819, to the same society there were granted 
five hundred Bibles ; and to the Charleston, S. C, 
Marine Bible Society, two hundred and fifty. 

The following year was granted a donation of ^^fQ 
hundred Bibles to the New York Marine Bible Society 
at one time, and at a subsequent period the same year 
two hundred and fifty. 

To the same society, in 1821, were granted five 
hundred Bibles and Testaments; also, to the Bath 
Marine Bible Society, one hundred ; to the Saco and 
Biddeford Marine Bible Society, one hundred ; to the 
Nantucket, New Bedford, and Marblehead Marine 
Bible Societies, four hundred and fifty. 

In 1822, to the Portland Marine Bible Society, two 
hundred ; New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Dartmouth 
Marine Bible Societies, sixty Bibles. 



BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN. 37 

In 1824, to the Charleston, Saco and Biddeford, 
Baltimore, and Wiscasset Marine Bihle Societies, seven 
hundred and twenty-five copies. 

In 1825, to the New York, Boston, Charleston, 
Providence, and Saco Marine Bible Societies, seven 
hundred and fifty, in different languages. 

In 1826, to the Baltimore Marine Bible Society, one 
hundred Spanish Bibles and Testaments. 

In 1827, Boston Marine Bible Society, one hundred 
and fifty. 

1829. American Seamen's Friend Society, twenty- 
four Bibles, in English and French. 

1830. American Seamen's Friend Society, two hund- 
red and thirteen. 

1832. American Seamen's Friend Society, for Sea- 
men's Hetreat on Staten Island, one hundred ; and for 
distribution aL foreign ports, in different languages, 
four hundred and seventy-nine. 

1833. American Seamen's Friend Society, five hund- 
red Bibles and Testaments. The report this year con- 
tains interesting statistics of the operations of the vari- 
ous benevolent societies for the improvement of the 
condition of seamen. Bethels and mariners' churches 
had been erected at our own and foreign ports for then* 
religious accommodation. The Marine Bible Society 
of New York had employed an agent for the purpose 
of promoting the object of that institution. 

1834. Oneida County Bible Society, for distribution 
on canal among boatmen, one hundred and fifteen. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, for sailors on 
Lake Erie and boatmen on Ohio Canal, three hundred. 

For Sailors' Beading-room at New Bedford, a small 
supply, in different languages. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, for sailors at the 
island of Java, one hundred. 

The board received an interesting communication 



gg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY 

from the Rev. Mr. Shaw in relation to the supply of 
boatmen. He says, "I have ascertained that very 
many of the boats which pass this place (Utica, N. Y.) 
are destitute of the Word of God, There are from 
twelve hundred to fifteen hundred, it is estimated, that 
float upon this long line of waters, exclusive of rafts 
and packets. These boats employ from eight to ten 
hundred hands, and convey from one hundred and 
fifty to one hundred and seventy-five thousand pas- 
sengers. Among the emigrants are numerous families 
from various parts of Europe, as well as from New 
England, crowding their way to the West. My con- 
gregation is a numerous one, and many of them are 
without the Bread of Life. I want to supply every 
boat with a Bible, and every boatman with a Testa- 
ment. I have been engaged in distributing Bibles and 
Testaments, and the experiment I have made brings 
to light their destitution, and their willingness to be 
supplied. A boat's crew were found not long since, on 
a Sabbath morning, listening to one of their number 
read the Word of God." 

No class of men, perhaps, among us are so neces- 
sarily deprived of the preaching of the Gospel as our 
seamen and boatmen. To them there is no Sabbath 
nor sanctuary. None are more exposed to sinful 
temptations ; and yet, in their long voyages, none are 
more favorably situated to read the Bible. The in- 
terest in behalf of this portion of our population 
increases from year to year. 

1835. The board granted this year to the Utica 
Boatmen's Friend Society, for distribution, seven hund- 
red and fifty Bibles and Testaments. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred 
and fifty. 

Young Men's Bible Society, for distribution among 
seamen, one hundred and fifty. 



BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN. 89 

Merrimac Bible Society, seventy-five. 

New York Marine, distribution by chaplains and 
agent, one hundred and fifty. 

New Bedford Marine, one hundred and fifty. 

Nantucket Female Marine, one hundred and fifty. 

Baltimore, Virginia, Oneida, Erie, Louisiana, Charles- 
ton, Warren, Salem, and Philadelphia Bible Societies, 
each, one hundred and fifty, for distribution among 
seamen and boatmen in their respective vicinities. 

1836. Savannah Young Men's Bible Society, for dis- 
tribution among seamen, two hundred. 

Newark Bethel Union, two hundred. 

Sailors' and Boatmen's Friend Society, two hundred. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, for distribution 
in Bio, one hundred and fifty. 

Young Men's Western Bible Society, for distribution 
on steam-boats, seventy-five. 

New York Marine Bible Society, one thousand. 

The report of this year remarks, that the demand for 
the Scriptures among this class of our fellow-men is on 
the increase, and ascribes it to the formation of marine 
Bible societies, the prevalence of temperance, the dif- 
fusion of religious books, the establishment of sea- 
men's chapels. Bethels, reading-rooms, and chaplaincies 
at our own and foreign ports. 

The American Seamen's Friend Society has chap- 
lains at Mobile, Havre, Smyrna, Eio Janeiro, Honolulu, 
and Canton. These chaplains are kept supplied with 
the Scriptures in various languages, and thus the Word 
of God goes out on every sea and touches every shore. 
The bread is thus cast upon all waters, and the promise 
is sure that it shall be gathered after many days. 

1837. American Seamen's Friend Society, for dis- 
tribution among seamen and boatmen, at different 
times during the year, six hundred Bibles and Testa- 
ments ; for Singapore, three hundred. 



90 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Western Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred and 
forty-seven. 

American Bethel Society, for boatmen, one thousand 
six hundred. 

1838. New York Marine Bible Society, for distribu- 
tion among seamen at Martha's Vineyard, one hund- 
red and twenty-five. 

Baltimore Marine Bible Society, one hundred. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, at different 
times, two hundred and twenty-seven. 

In regard to distribution on our lakes and inland 
waters, one who has resided long at the West writes, 
" The canals of the Sta^te of New York, now com- 
pleted and in operation, extend the distance of five 
hundred miles through a thickly-populated country. 
They have on their banks one hundred villages and 
cities, bear on their bosom one thousand eight hund- 
red boats, and employ in this kind of navigation be- 
tween ten and twelve thousand men. Pass on to the 
line of lakes. Ontario, on the north, affords no incon- 
siderable amount of navigation by steam-boats and 
sail vessels. Then there is Lake Erie, which forms 
a most important connection between the West, and 
East, and North. That beautiful lake is whitened 
with the sails of one hundred and forty vessels, and 
will be plied this season by over forty steam-boats, 
constantly bearing on to the West commerce and the 
mighty tide of immigration. Glance at the villages, 
and cities, and beautiful and growing country which 
lie along the borders of this lake. Then bend your 
way across Ohio, through the great canal of that state, 
which is rapidly filling up with boats, and men, and 
business, and you reach the Ohio River, that beauti- 
ful stream so much admired by travelers, and all who 
have seen it, stretching away a thousand miles through 
one of the most lovely and picturesque countries in 



BIBLE AMONG SEAMEN. ^1 

the world, amid a hundred villages which adorn its 
banks. Then there is the Mississippi, the 'Father of 
Rivers,' with its twenty-three tributaries, affording 
navigation for a distance of eight thousand miles, in 
various directions, into almost every part of the great 
West. 

" The whole distance through which these lakes, 
rivers, and canals afford navigation is nearly twenty 
thousand miles, through a fertile and populous coun- 
try. Their banks are adorned with five hundred vil- 
lages and cities. On their bosom float two hundred 
vessels, between three and four hundred steam-boats, 
two thousand canal-boats, four thousand flat-boats, 
and innumerable rafts of lumber, employing in this 
kind of navigation between seventy and eighty thou- 
sand men, and transporting annually about two hund- 
red thousand passengers. Besides these, there are 
probably as many more who are engaged in collateral 
business, and situated in the vicinity of the waters, 
who are designed to be benefited by the efforts made 
in behalf of sailors and boatmen." 

During this year, to each of the following societies 
were granted two hundred Bibles and Testaments, viz., 
Baltimore, Wheeling, Missouri, Illinois, Louisiana, 
Galena, Norfolk, and New York. 

1839. American Seamen's Friend Society, in En- 
glish and Spanish, fom: hundred and seventy-nine 
Bibles. 

New York Marine Society, seventy-five. 

1840. Baltimore Marine Society, one hundred and 
fifty. 

1841. Oswego County Bible Society, for distribution 
among seamen and boatmen, three hundred Bibles. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, two hundred 
and fifty-one. 

American Bethel Society, three hundred. 



92 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Oswego County Bible Society, for distribution among 
sailors and boatmen, three hundred. 

The report of this year estimates that fifty thousand 
seamen enter the port of New York annually. The 
wants of this class are attended to by the agent of the 
New York City Bible Society. 

The Young Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati has 
been particularly active in supplying boatmen, and in 
furnishing the cabins of hundreds of steamers with the 
Bible. 

1842. American Bethel Society, seven hundred. 
Cincinnati Young Men's Bible Society, for boatmen 

and emigrants, seven hundred. 

Rev. E. T. Taylor, seamen's chaplain at Boston, one 
hundred. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred 
and fifty. 

1843. Society of Benevolence, Princeton, for boat- 
men, one hundred and fifty. 

Delaware and Hudson Canal, Rve hundred and fifty. 
Bethel Society, Cleveland, four hundred. 
American Seamen's Friend Society, four hundred 
and fifty. 

Seamen's Bethel, Baltimore, one hundred and fifty. 
Bethel Society, Rochester, N. Y., five hundred. 

1844. American Bethel Society, N. Y., for boatmen, 
one hundred. 

Marine Hospital, Kentucky, twenty-four. 
Bethel Society, Cleveland, Ohio, one hundred and 
twenty-five. 

1845. American Seamen's Friend Society, four 
hundred and fifty. 

American Bethel Society, Rye hundred and twenty- 
five. 

1846. American Seamen's Friend Society, four 
hundred Bibles and Testaments, in English, French, 
German, and Portuguese. 



BIBLE IN THE ARMY. 



93 



American Bethel Society, three hundred and eighty. 

1848. Protestant Episcopal Missionary Society, on 
the request of their chaplain, five hundred Bihles and 
Testaments for the use of seamen at home and ahroad. 

American Seamen's Friend Society, on request of 
their chaplain at Mobile, two hundred Bibles and 
Testaments. 

To the same society, for their chaplain at Havana, 
two hundred and sixty-two Bihles and Testaments. 

To the same, for their chaplain at Canton, China, 
one hundred and eighty Bibles and Testaments. 

To the same, for their chaplain at Lahaina, four 
hundred Bibles and Testaments in different tongues. 

In 1849, to the American Bethel Society, five hund- 
red and seventy-five Bibles and Testaments for boat-, 
men on the Hudson Canal, Erie Canal, and Western 
lakes; to the chajDlain of Norfolk Station, Ya., nine 
hundred Bibles and Testaments in English, German, 
and French ; to the American Seamen's Friend Soci- 
ety, for West Indies, two hundred and sixty-two Bibles 
and Testaments, and one hundred Testaments for the 
chaplain at Havana, and one hundred and forty-nine 
Bibles for the chaplain at Valparaiso; to the Prot- 
estant Episcopal Marine Missionary Society, Bos- 
ton, three hundred and sixty-seven Bibles and Testa- 
ments, in English, German, French, Danish, and Por- 
tuguese. 

In 1850, to American Seamen's Friend Society, fifty 
Bibles, in Portuguese, for Sandwich Islands ; to the 
same, four hundred and fifty Bibles, in Swedish and 
other tongues, for the Baltic, AYest Indies, and Pio 
de Janeiro ; to the Western Boatmen s Friend Soci- 
ety, seven hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments ; 
to U. S. ship Cumberland, twenty-five Bibles ; to the 
frigate St. Lawrence, four hundred Testaments. 

In 1851, to the frigate Congress, one hundred and 



94 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

eighty-two Bibles and Testaments in different lan- 
guages, and twenty-four to the brig Venezuela ; to U. 
S. ship Earitan, fifty Bibles in different languages. 

In 1852, to U. S. ship St. Lawrence, one hundred 
Bibles ; to the schooner Boliviana, seventeen, and to 
the brig Georgiana, fifty ; to the marine agent of the 
N. Y. Bible Society, four hundred and sixty-seven, in 
different languages ; to the American Bethel Society, 
two thousand Testaments for canals ; to Edgartown, 
to supply whalemen, one hundred and fifty Bibles and 
Testaments ; American Seamen's Friend Society, 
three hundred and thirty-one Bibles and Testaments 
for the West Indies ; to Searsport, for sailors, eighty- 
five Bibles and Testaments. 

In 1853, to the U. S. ships Cumberland, Zenobia, 
and Pennsylvania, three hundred and fifty-two Bibles 
and Testaments, and to the steamers Mississippi and 
El Paraguay, seventy-six Bibles and Testaments, and 
to the steamer Berta, three Spanish Testaments ; to 
American Seamen's Friend Society, one hundred and 
thirty-seven Bibles and Testaments ; to Western Sea- 
men's Friend Society, six hundred Bibles and Testa- 
ments ; to seamen's chaplain at St. Thomas, West In- 
dies, forty-five Bibles ; to bark Warner, twenty-two 
Arabic and Portuguese Bibles and Testaments ; to the 
American Bethel Society, twenty-five hundred Testa- 
ments, for boatmen ; to the Hawaiian Bible Society, 
three hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments ; to 
ship Flying-fish, eighty Bibles ; U. S. Naval Acad- 
emy, fifty-five Bibles ; for the Coast Survey, fifty Bi- 
bles ; for light-houses on our coast, three hundred 
Bibles. 

In 1854, to persons in Light-house service, three 
hundred Bibles ; American Seamen's Friend Society, 
one hundred and seventy Bibles for Bio Janeiro, S. A. ; 



BIBLE IN THE ARMY. 95 

to American Bethel Society, two thousand Bibles and 
Testaments ; to N. Y. and Erie Bail-road Company, 
for their stations, eighty-one Bibles ; for distribution 
among miners, two hundred Bibles ; to commission- 
ers from Egypt to the Crystal Palace, each a Bible. 
In 1855, to Navy Yard, Florida, one hundred and 
fifty Bibles ; for stations on the Hudson Biver and 
Norwich and Worcester Bail-roads, eighty Bibles ; for 
Mexicans, one hundred and fifty Bibles ; for Utah Ter- 
ritory, three hundred and fifty Bibles, and two hund- 
red and fifty for Kansas ; American Seamen's Friend 
Society, three hundred and eighteen Bibles and Testa- 
ments. 



CHAPTER X. 

BIBLE IN THE ARMY. 



Soon after the organization of the society, an oppor- 
tunity was afforded of introducing the Bible into the 
army of the United States. 

In 1823, an officer of high rank in the army requested 
two hundred Bibles to be placed at his disposal, for 
the supply of the United States troops at remote mili- 
tary posts. Some attention had been paid to this 
subject by the Michigan Bible Society, and a partial 
supply had been furnished for the use of soldiers in 
several of the garrisons of the northwestern frontier. 

Arrangements were entered into for a systematic 
supply of all the subalterns and privates at the distant 
posts and cantonments. 

To complete the supply for military posts, in 1825 
the board made a donation of three hundred Bibles. 

On the request of Lieutenant Kinsley, the soldiers 



96 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

at West Point were supplied with Bibles, in various 
languages, during the year 1831 ; and the following 
year one hundred and fifty Bibles and Testaments were 
sent to the West Point Bible Society for the same 
object. 

During the year 1833, on the request of Captain 
Loomis, of the army, who marched for the remote mili- 
tary posts of the West, was granted a supply of Bibles, 
and also to the recruiting station at Utica. 

Tv/o hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted 
to the Bible Society at West Point, for the soldiers 
stationed at Fort Jessup. 

The managers of this society undertook the work 
of ascertaining the biblical wants of all our military 
posts, with the view of having every soldier supplied. 
Permission was granted by the War Department to 
put Bibles in the bundles of clothing destined for the 
different posts. 

The following extract from the report of the chap- 
lain will show what was done for the supply of the 
soldiers at the recruiting stations on Governor's and 
Bedlow's Islands : 

" During the past year I have been permitted, by the 
goodness of God, and through the bounty of your so- 
ciety, to distribute as many as twelve hundred Testa- 
ments, in various languages, and one hundred Bibles, 
to the soldiers stationed on Governor's and Bedlow's 
Islands, in the harbor of New York. I have been in- 
formed by the officers that it is not an uncommon 
occurrence for half a dozen soldiers to assemble in 
the open field, or on the parade, and listen to a soldier 
in the midst, who reads from the Scriptures the words 
of eternal life. The soldiers who were called by the 
voice of their country into the dangers of actual serv- 
ice, under the command of General Scott, on the north- 
western frontier, were aifectionately visited the day 



BIBLE IN THE ARMY. 9 7 

preceding their march, and all who were destitute were 
furnished with Testaments or Bihles. As many of 
these poor men went out that time to return no more 
forever, can it do otherwise than cause a happy emo- 
tion in your hosoms that they carried with them in 
their knapsacks, even to their graves, which the pesti- 
lence had dug for them in the West, the Book of God, 
hearing the imprint of your society ? In the exercise 
of my pastoral duty, since the return of the soldiers 
from the West I have had the pleasure of learning that 
many of those victims of the cholera died rejoicing in 
the hopes of the Gospel." 

In 1834, a supply of Bihles and Testaments was 
granted to Major Alexander Thompson, for the use of 
the soldiers at Cantonment Leavenworth, on the Mis- 
souri Hiver ; also, to the West Point Bihle Society, a 
supply for soldiers at the various military posts. 

For an officer in the army, in 1840, a grant was 
made of fifty copies of the Bihle. 

At the military posts in the vicinity of New York, 
the society for the city circulated one thousand seven 
hundred Bibles and Testaments. Many of these were 
furnished to soldiers about to march for Florida and 
other remote stations. 

On the request of a friend of the Bible cause in 
Philadelphia, one thousand Testaments were granted, 
to be forwarded in boxes of clothing, through the com- 
missary's department, to soldiers at the remote mili- 
tary posts. A gentleman connected with the depart- 
ment signified his great satisfaction in thus aiding the 
distribution of these books. 

In 1843, to the Rev. N. Sayre Harris, and others, as 
a committee, were granted eight hundred and sixty 
New Testaments for the use of soldiers. These books 
were sent in packages of clothing dispatched from 
Philadelphia. 

G 



9g AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

This year an association of clergymen, who had 
once been connected with the army and navy, was 
formed, for the purpose of promoting the moral welfare 
of those with whom they were formerly associated. 
One thousand Testaments were granted this commit- 
tee, to aid them in their laudable endeavors. 

On application of the Rev. Mr. Harris, one of the 
committee, twelve hundred Testaments, by special 
desire, were furnished with clasps, which made them 
particularly acceptable to those for whom designed. 

In 1847, to the chaplain at Fort Brooke, Florida, 
was granted two hundred and twenty-five Bibles and 
Testaments. 

In 1848, to Mexico, three thousand Bibles and Testa- 
ments, for the use of the U. S. soldiers in that country. 
For U.S. soldiers in California, four hundred and forty 
Bibles and Testaments. To Ft. Hamilton and Jefferson 
Barracks, one hundred and ten Bibles and Testaments. 

In 1851, to U. S. soldiers at Tampa Bay, one hund- 
red and twenty-five Bibles and Testaments. 

In 1852, to U. S. soldiers in Texas and New Orleans, 
one hundred and sixty-five Bibles and Testaments. 



GHAPTEE XI. 

BIBLE IN THE NAVY. 



The first appropriation made to the navy was a do- 
nation of sixty-five Bibles to the United States ship 
the John Adams, for the use of her crew, in 1818. 

During the year 1821, the managers made a propo- 
sition to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy for the sup- 
ply of the navy of the United States with Bibles. 
The proposition was received by that gentleman in 
the most pleasing manner. With a view, as suggest- 



BIBLE IN THE NAVY. 99 

ed by the honorable secretary, of furnishing every of- 
ficer and seaman with a copy of the Scriptures, the 
board granted three thousand five hundred Bibles. 

In relation to the distribution and preservation of 
these books, suitable instructions were issued from the 
Navy Department. The officers readily engaged in 
circulating the Bibles among their respective crews. 

The following naval stations were supplied, name- 
ly, Portsmouth, Washington City, Norfolk, Charleston, 
New Orleans, Charlestown, New York, Philadelphia. 

To Captain TV. Chauncey, of the United States ship 
Ontario, for the crew and for distribution on his cruise, 
sixty- two Bibles, in English, French, and Spanish. 

In 1824, to the ship United States, one hundred 
Bibles. 

To Captain Creighton, of the same ship, for distribu- 
tion in the Mediterranean, fifty Bibles. 

In 1826, to the United States naval chaplain, for 
the sloop of war Boston, five Bibles. 

In 1827, to the same, for distribution, four hundred 
and fifty-five Bibles and Testaments. 

United States Navy, Norfolk station, one hundred 
and five, in English and French. 

Norfolk Bible Society, to replace Bibles furnished 
the United States ship Macedonian, twenty-five* 

1828. United States naval chaplain, for sloops of 
war Natchez, Erie, and Shark, one hundred and ten ; 
and for the West India station, one hundred. 

1829. United States Navy, for ships Hornet, Erie, 
and Hudson, three hundred and twenty. 

1830. To the United States naval chaplain, for the 
sloop of war Peacock, frigate Brandywine, ship Onta- 
rio, and frigate United States, one hundred and fifty 
Bibles. 

1831. United States Navy, for officers of ships Bos- 
ton and Vincennes, forty Bibles. 



IQQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

1832. For the sloop of war Falmouth, ships Frank- 
lin and Potomac, and the officers and crew of schoon- 
er Enterprise, one hundred Bihles. 

1833. United States Navy, three hundred and 
seventy-two. To Lieutenant Long, United States 
Navy, one hundred and fifty Bihles, in different lan- 
guages. 

1834. To the United States ship Delaware a grant 
was made of five hundred Bihles and Testaments. 

The following extract of a letter from Captain John 
C. Long, late commander of the United States schooner 
Dolphin, in the Pacific, will show the faithful disposi- 
tion made hy him of the Bihles intrusted to his care : 
" I was ahsent on the lee coast of Guayaquil, and did 
not receive the two hoxes containing one hundred and 
fifty Bihles, and one hundred Testaments, in Spanish, 
until the second of September, since which, however, 
I have made the following donations, where I doubt 
very much if a Bihle had ever been seen. To the 
general of marine, for the use of officers and men, 
eighty -three Bibles and Testaments. To the captain 
of the sloop of war Libertad, his officers and men, one 
hundred and fifteen. To the captain of the brig of 
war Aquipana, sixty-five. To the different ports on 
the coast, since my last, all of the above in Spanish, 
thirty-three. To the French brig of war GrrifFon (in 
French), fourteen. To the officers of this vessel, since 
my last report, twenty-seven. As I am to leave the 
coast for the United States, and shall make one short 
cruise to windward and to leeward, I think I shall be 
enabled to dispose of the remainder. I had some 
doubts about supplying the Peruvian vessels of war, 
thinking they would dispose of them, as they have 
the character of doing with every thing belonging to 
them; but, on reflection, I concluded they would then 
go into the country, and the object of distribution 



BIBLE IN THE NAVY. 



101 



would be accomplished. I used the precaution to 
make the following insertion over the index, ' Present- 
ed to the Peruvian sloop or brig of war Liberty, by an 
officer of the United States Navy, in behalf of the 
North American Bible Society, September 11th, 1833.' 
Before I sent them, I wrote to the general of marine, 
as well as to the commanders of the vessels, for their 
consent, which they granted, and the general of ma- 
rine said he had not enough to supply the demands 
of the officers, and to-day I sent him twenty Bibles 
and three Testaments, being all of the latter I had on 
hand." 

1836. To the Young Men's Bible Society of New 
York, for the supply of the frigate Constitution and 
the sloop of war Peacock, one hundred and twenty.^ 

1838. To the New York Young Men's Bible Society, 
for the navy yard, three hundred. 

Spanish seamen on board the ship Manilla, fifty 
Spanish Bibles. 

1839. New York Young Men's Bible Society, for 
ship Ohio, one hundred and ten English and Spanish. 

1840. New York Young Men's Bible Society, for 
United States ship Constitution, one hundred ; United 
States ship Warren, one hundred ; chaplain of the 
navy, for distribution at navy yard, two hundred ; 
brig United States, of Brazil squadron, one hundred 
and ninety; and ships Decatur and North Carolina, 
one hundred. 

1842. United States ship Delaware, for officers and 
crew, three hundred. 

The New York Marine Bible Society, for the ship 
of war Belle Poule, commanded by a son of the French 
monarch, which conveyed the remains of Napoleon 
from St. Helena, appropriated seventy-six French Bi- 
bles, and one hundred and fifty Testaments, which 
were gratefully received. 



102 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



1843. United States ship Columbus, for distribution 
at Brazil station, two hundred; and ship Ohio, one 
hundred and twenty-five. 

1844. To the army and navy committee was made 
a large appropriation this year, for distribution in these 
departments as they should judge best. 

1845. To the navy yard, Brooklyn, fifty Bibles. 

1846. To the United States frigate Congress, on ap- 
plication of the chaplain, one hundred Bibles, for use 
on a voyage in the Pacific. 



CHAPTER XII. 

BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 



From the interest which had been awakened and 
seemed to prevail throughout the country in relation 
to Sabbath schools, and their intimate connection with 
the reading and study of the Bible as a text-book, the 
society was induced, at an early day, to publish cheap 
but substantial editions of the Bible and Testament 
for Sunday schools. The price of these books has 
been reduced from time to time, as the means of the 
society would justify, until now, when a good Non- 
pareil Bible can be had at the Depository at New 
York for twenty-five cents, and a Testament at six 
and a quarter cents. 

The society has not only placed the Bible within 
the reach of all of the most limited means, but it will 
be seen in this chapter that the most liberal gratui- 
tous appropriations have from year to year been made 
to this truly benevolent and Christian institution. 

The organization of the British and Foreign Bible 
Society, the great parent of all Bible societies, was sug- 



BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. j^ Q 3 

gested by a request for a supply of Bibles for the Sab- 
bath schools in Wales. 

In 1802, the Rev. Thomas Charles, of Bala, in the 
principality of Wales, an ordained minister of the 
Established Church, but laboring as an itinerant, in 
connection with the Welsh CalviniStic Methodists, 
visited London for the purpose of laying before the 
Religious Tract Society the destitute condition of the 
Sunday schools and the poorer classes of his field of 
labor. He proposed a contribution in aid of the plan 
for printing and distributing the Scriptures in Wales. 
The proposition gave rise to an interesting and lengthy 
conversation, in the course of which it was suggested 
that Wales was not the only part of the kingdom 
where such a destitution prevailed, and that it would 
be proper to take such steps as would stir up the Chris- 
tian community to engage in a general distribution of 
the Scriptures. 

This suggestion was made by the Rev. Joseph 
Hughes, a Baptist minister, who was subsequently 
one of the secretaries of the British and Foreign Bible 
Society. The Tract Society requested Mr. Hughes to 
prepare an address, setting forth more fully his views 
on the subject. 

To this he acceded, and presented an address re- 
plete with sound views, and breathing a spirit of the 
most enlarged Christian philanthropy. 

This worthy minister may justly be considered one 
of the most prominent actors in the formation of that 
great institution. 

The supply of Sabbath schools is thus made an ex- 
ceedingly appropriate work. 

We do not design to notice all the appropriations 
made to Sabbath schools, or to the local associations 
which have been formed in various parts of the coun- 
try, and which from time to time have been supplied, 



]^04 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

but shall simply direct the reader's attention to those 
appropriations made to institutions of a general 
character, organized for the promotion of Sabbath 
schools. 

These schools were first established in England 
sixty-five years ago. It is said .they existed in Italy 
at a much earlier date. Of this, however, we can not 
ascertain any thing definite. The seed that was then 
sown, like the *' handful of corn on the top of the 
mountains, has shaken like Lebanon." The cause at 
first, like all good causes, met with opposition, and 
had to struggle against the tide of wordly as well as 
Christian prejudices. But it has triumphed glorious- 
ly, and now there is scarcely to be found a city, vil- 
lage, or neighborhood in all our country unblessed 
with the Sabbath school. They exist in every Chris- 
tian country under heaven, and millions of children 
and youth are thus brought up to the pure fountain 
of God's truth, and allowed to drink freely of its life- 
giving waters. At almost every missionary station 
in heathen lands these schools are established, and 
working wonders in molding the youthful mind to 
virtue, and modeling the character after Christian prin- 
ciples. Even men of the world, governed by selfish 
views and worldly policy, acknowledge the importance 
of early religious training. A single instance will il- 
lustrate this. The King of Prussia, a few years since, 
ordered the publication of several thousand copies of 
the Bible, impressed with his own seal, for the use of 
the schools, remarking that "the youthful mind re- 
ceived impressions with the flexibility of wax, and re- 
tained them with the durability of bronze." 

The same principle is beautifully illustrated by Tup- 
per : " Scratch the rind of the tender sapling, and the 
gnarled oak will tell of it for centuries." Every thing 
depends upon the early bent given to the mind in its 



BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. ^05 

forming stage. The same idea is beautifully expressed 
in the following lines : 

" A pebble in the streamlet scant 

Has turned the course of many a river ; 
A dew-drop on the baby plant 

Has warped the giant oak forever." 

To bless and save this interesting portion of our race 
the American Bible Society has been actively engag- 
ed ; and had it accomplished no more than it has ac- 
complished in this extensive and deeply-interesting 
field of Christian effort, it would well have deserved 
all the sympathy and support it has received from the 
Church and the world. But we must not dwell. A 
theme so interesting has taken captive our pen. 

In 1831, the board made a grant of twenty thousand 
Bibles and Testaments to the American Sunday School 
Union, for the purpose of supplying destitute schools 
in the Valley of the Mississippi. 

The report of this year states, that " the same mo- 
tive which has long actuated the managers in urging 
their auxiliaries to supply every destitute family within 
their limits with the Bible, has also led them to recom- 
mend the supply of all Sunday school pupils with the 
New Testament." In view of that supply, the follow- 
ing resolutions were passed : 

'^ Resolved, That the managers view with great satis- 
faction the efforts of the present day to encourage the 
study of the sacred Scriptures in Sunday schools ; and 
that they shall always feel disposed, so far as able, to 
aid such schools, of every religious denomination, by 
furnishing on sale at reduced prices, or gratuitously 
(through their respective unions), such Bibles and 
Testaments as may be needed. 

'^Resolved, That as the American Sunday School 
Union has undertaken to establish Sunday schools ex- 



IQQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

tensively in the Valley of the Mississippi, a supply of 
Bibles and Testaments be granted to said union for 
the purpose of distribution, gratuitously, in such places 
within their selected field as may need assistance of 
this kind." 

1833. New York Sunday School Union, two thou- 
sand four hundred. 

1834. To the same union was granted seven hund- 
red and twenty-five. 

American Sunday School Union, two thousand Test- 
aments for the supply of destitute schools in the West- 
ern States, and five thousand for the use of such schools 
in the Southern States. 

1835. New York Sunday School Union, one thou- 
sand. 

Massachusetts Sunday School Union, one thousand 
two hundred. 

Greneral Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, 
two thousand ^ye hundred. 

Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, two thou- 
sand ^Ye hundred. 

1836. New York Sunday School Union, two thou- 
sand one hundred. 

Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, two 
thousand five hundred. 

The following resolutions were adopted for the pro- 
motion of the circulation of the Scriptures among 
youth and children : 

^'Resolved, That the friends of the Bible throughout 
the country, of every religious denomination, be re- 
spectfully invited to co-operate in furnishing, as soon 
as practicable, a copy of the Bible or New Testament 
to every child in the United States under fifteen years 
of age, who is able to read, and is destitute of the sa- 
cred volume. 

^^ Resolved, That in effecting this contemplated sup- 



BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. IQ^ 

ply, it is desirable that the work be done, so far as 
possible, through the agency of local auxiliaries, they 
procuring books, and furnishing them to all the Sun- 
day schools, of every religious name, within their re- 
spective limits. 

''Resolved^ That the auxiliaries be requested, so far 
as they are able, to purchase books requisite for the 
supply of their respective districts ; and when unable 
to purchase the whole number required, to make 
known their remaining wants to the American Bible 
Society, for the purpose of obtaining gratuitous aid. 

^' Hesolved, That with such pecuniary assistance 
from benevolent individuals and the more wealthy 
auxiliaries as may be reasonably expected, the Ameri- 
can Bible Society will endeavor, in the prosecution of 
this enterprise, to furnish the sacred Scriptures gratui- 
tously whenever this course shall, on examination, 
seem to be proper and necessary." 

These resolutions were highly acceptable, and al- 
most unanimously adopted and carried out by the 
faithful allies of the parent institution. 

1837. American Sunday School Union, eight thou- 
sand Bibles and Testaments. 

1838. Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, 
one hundred and twenty-four. 

American Sunday School Union, one thousand. 

1839. New York City Sunday School Union, six 
hundred. 

Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, five 
hundred. 

Canada Sunday School Union, three hundred. 

Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union, one 
hundred and twenty. 

1840. New York Sunday School Union, at different 
times, one thousand. 

1841. To the same, one hundred and sixty-eight. 



IQg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

1842. Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, 
one thousand. 

Sunday School Union of the Reformed Dutch Church, 
seven hundred. 

1843. To the same union, four hundred and fifty. 

1844. American Sunday School Union, two thou- 
sand. 

In regard to these gratuities to the different Sunday 
school unions, the hoard during this year, by a series 
of resolutions, intended primarily to apply to the Ameri- 
can Tract Society, directed them to make no distribu- 
tions where local auxiliaries existed and could per- 
form the same work. 

1845. Sunday School Union of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, six hundred. 

1846. To the same, three thousand ^ye hundred. 

1847. To the same, three thousand five hundred. 
American Sunday School Union, three thousand Rye 

hundred. 

General Synod Sunday School Union of the Re- 
formed Dutch Church, three hundred. 

1848. American Sunday School Union, three thou- 
sand eight hundred. 

During the seven years which have elapsed since 
the first edition of this history was published, the fol- 
lowing grants, from time to time, have been made : 

To the American Sunday School Union, three thou- 
sand six hundred Bibles and Testaments. 

To the Methodist Episcopal Sunday School Union, 
forty-five thousand nine hundred Bibles and Testa- 
ments. 

To the American Board of Commissioners for For- 
eign Missions, one thousand two hundred and sixty- 
one Bibles and Testaments. 

To the American and Foreign Christian Union, 
one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five. 



BIBLE IN SUNDAY SCHOOLS. 109 

To the Presbyterian Board of Missions, two thou- 
sand eight hundred and thirty-seven. 

Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society, four thou- 
sand two hundred and seventy-nine. 

American Tract Society, seven thousand one hund- 
red. 

American Home Missionary Society, two thousand 
six hundred and eighty-five. 

American Missionary Association, five hundred and 
forty-five. 

Methodist Book Concern, North, one thousand four 
hundred. 

The Protestant Episcopal Church, one thousand two 
hundred. 

The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, one thou- 
sand eight hundred. 

Pittsbm-g Conference, seven hundred and ten. 

American and Foreign Bible Society, eight hund- 
red and fifty. 

Foreign Evangelical Society, eight hundred and 
forty-eight. 

Protestant Methodist Book Concern, two hundred. 

Protestant Episcopal Foreign Missionary Society, 
five hundred. 

Choctaw Mission, three thousand two hundred. 

Delegates from Ireland, three thousand six hund- 
red. 

To American Colonization Society, Marine Mission- 
ary Society, Grand Ligne Mission, Canada, Mexican 
Mission, Cherokee Mission, German Bible Society, 
Protestant French Church, American Unitarian As- 
sociation, Missionary Society of Moravian Church, 
Colored Sunday-schools, blind, and to numerous in- 
dividuals for distribution at home and in foreign 
countries. 



110 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

The gratuitous issues during the last seven years 
amount to upward of three hundred thousand, and 
this does not include the great number which, from 
time to time, become gratuities in the poorer states 
and territories, where the debts of the auxiliaries have 
to be canceled by the Society. The amount canceled 
for the last year alone was upward of twelve thousand 
dollars. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 



In the early history of the society, the distributers 
were all appointed by the auxiliaries. These distrib- 
uters were friends of the cause, and from a desire to 
see the destitute supplied, the county being divided 
into districts or townships, they offered their services 
and gratuitously devoted a portion of their time to the 
work of exploration and supply. This course was 
universally pursued by the auxiliaries, and by this 
means a vast expense was saved to the societies, and 
thousands of families were put in possession of the 
Lamp of Salvation. The plan, however, had its diffi- 
culties. In many places it could not be carried out 
at all, and where it was adopted the explorations were 
not sufficiently thorough, and the supply consequent- 
ly defective. 

In 1829, an effort was made to supply every family 
in the United States with the Bible in the space of 
two years. This enterprise did not originate with the 
managers. To the Monroe Co. Bible Soc. , N. Y. belongs 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. ^11 

the honor of making the proposition. It was accom- 
panied with a warm Christian commendation, and a 
pledge of five thousand dollars toward its prosecution. 
Other auxiliaries approved of and encouraged the un- 
dertaking, and the hoard laid it hefore the annual 
meeting. With heartfelt unanimity, resolutions were 
passed hy the great assemhly to attempt the work, and 
vigorous measures were immediately adopted and put 
in train to secure a successful issue. Never did an 
ohject of henevolence meet with more universal appro- 
bation. The auxiliaries went to work with new zeal ; 
Bibles were ordered in great numbers; hundreds vol- 
unteered their services ; professional men, and mer- 
chants, and mechanics, and farmers, and laborers came 
up to the work of distribution, and at the expiration of 
three years the work was done. More than half a 
million of Bibles were put into hands, many of whom 
never possessed the sacred treasure before. 

This great paroxysm of excitement, though attend- 
ed for the time being with good results, in the end 
proved rather disastrous in reducing the system from 
its wonted health, and a lethargy supervened, as was 
anticipated, that was alarming. 

It was thought by many that the Bible work was 
completed, and there would be need of no further ef- 
fort ; and as the work of foreign supply had not then 
been entered into very extensively, there being but 
few translations and a limited demand, there was a 
general apathy. Hundreds of auxiliaries fell into a 
sleep, from which it would appear, from the ineffectual 
efforts made to arouse them, there is no awaking. 
Had the societies, which were most, if not all, actively 
but noiselessly engaged in the work of home supply, 
been suffered to move on systematically and regular- 
ly, the work would have nevertheless been done, and 
a constitution, broken down by over-acting, would 



]^]l2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

have been saved for long years of faithful toil. But 
the excitement was up, and there was no staying the 
tide. It bore away all opposition. Societies became 
deeply involved in debt, and the inactivity of many 
of them is such that they have not sufficient life even 
to ask to be forgiven. A vast amount was also ex- 
pended by the employment of special agents for the 
accomplishment of this work. 

In 1839, another proposition was made to the board 
of great and glorious magnitude. The proposition was, 
that an attempt be made, in connection with the Bible 
societies in Europe, to supply the entire world with the 
Scriptures in the course of twenty years. This prop- 
osition also came from one of the society's most im- 
portant auxiliaries, and was warmly recommended by 
many of the purest and wisest spirits of the age. 

After mature consultation and deliberation, it was 
resolved at an annual meeting to attempt its accom- 
plishment, not in twenty years, but in the shortest 
practicable period. As we intend to resume this sub- 
ject in another chapter, we shall pass it by for the 
present. 

During this year application was made by the Ameri- 
can Tract Society to furnish its colporteurs with Bibles 
and Testaments for distribution among the destitute 
families found in their respective fields. As the society 
had furnished the American and other Sunday school 
unions with grants of a similar character, it was 
thought by the friends of the tract cause that it would 
be perfectly right to circulate the Scriptures through 
their distributers. The society entertained fears in 
regard to the propriety of this movement, on the 
ground that it would interfere with the movements of 
auxiliaries, and constitute an apparent reason for their 
abandoning the work of distribution. To the writer's 
own knowledge, these fears were well founded. But, 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. n^ 

in addition to this, many objected to this plan of dis- 
tributing the Bible on the ground that it conflicted 
with the anti-sectarian character of the institution, 
which required the circulation of the Bible unattended 
with note or comment, while in almost all the families 
where Bibles were given away or sold, the society's 
publications were sold with them. 

Whether this objection was valid or not, yet such 
was the impression wrought upon the minds of thou- 
sands. It was objected, again, that by this operation 
the societies were amalgamated, and the union re- 
sulted disastrously to the interests of the Bible Society, 
masmuch as the funds which were raised by the agents 
of the Tract Society, in their appeals to churches and 
individuals in behalf of those destitute of the Bible and 
other good books, were devoted exclusively to the aid 
of the Tract Society. 

"VVe have not one word to say of ill intent in regard 
to* the American Tract Society. "We believe it to be 
constructed on the largest and most benevolent prin- 
ciples of Christianity ; that its publications are evan- 
gelical, and, as far as can be, untinctured with secta- 
rianism. We further believe it is accomplishing a 
vast amount of good in substituting for the light, 
trashy, licentious, and infidel literature of the age, the 
substantial literature of an elevated morality and a 
pure Christianity ; but, while we admit most cheer- 
fully all this, we can not but most heartily subscribe 
to the views of the board of the American Bible So- 
ciety, subsequently adopted in regard to Bible distribu- 
tion, as follows : . 

" The committee to whom was referred the subject of Bible Distri- 
bution by Tract Colporteurs, submit the following Report. It appears, 
on examination, that in 1844 the managers of the American Bible 
Society adopted these resolutions : 

" * Resolved, That the auxiliaries be requested to place in the hands 

H 



|;l^4: AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of the colporteurs of the American Tract Society, upon the apphcation 
of such colporteurs, Bibles and Testaments for distribution, as far as 
the auxiliaries may think it necessary ; and if, to accomplish this, the 
auxiliaries should need the aid of the parent society, such aid will be 
cheerfully granted as soon as their wants shall be made known. 

" ' Resolved, That 500 Bibles and 1500 Testaments be granted to 
said society, to enable its agents and colporteurs to supply the destitute 
in places where the American Bible Society has no auxiliaries through 
which distributions can be effected. 

*' ' Resolved, That the books thus granted be sold, when practicable, 
for whole or part cost, and the avails returned to the American Bible 
Society, or used in purchasing other copies for distribution. 

" ' Resolved, That those who receive and distribute these books be 
requested to inform the Bible Society, from time to time, as to the 
manner in which they have been disposed of, and as to the need of 
further supplies.' 

" From the Annual Report of the managers for that year, it is man- 
ifest that they had some fears as to the effect of this mode of distri- 
bution in the Bible cause, as well as the like mode by the American 
Sunday School Union, to which donations of the Scriptures had fre- 
quently been made. A few extracts from the Report referred to will 
exhibit the managers' views. 

" ' The only objections,' say they, ' to these modes of distribution, 
arose from the apprehension that they might interfere with the favorite 
and long-tried mode adopted by this society, that is, by means of its 
own local auxiliaries. The experience of every passing year has tend- 
ed to confirm the board in the pre-eminent utility of this instrumental- 
ity for circulating the Word of God. Nothing is more evident to them 
than that the various sections of the country are now supplied with the 
Bible or are destitute of it, just in proportion as they have kept up or 
neglected these local associations. 

" * In relation to no duties connected with this blessed cause are they 
now more desirous, than that the members and conductors of these as- 
sociations should keep them in healthful action, and suffer nothing to 
retard their movements. The wants of the needy within their bounds 
are then provided for, and moneys raised to carry on, through the par- 
ent society, the work of distribution in remoter fields. For these local 
institutions there is no substitute ; and the board desire to see the day 
when one of them shall be established in every county of the Union, 
ready to furnish the Bible to every individual. Were such auxiliaries 
now extant and active in every county, they could supply families and 
Sunday schools of every condition, and have no occasion for other dis- 
tributing agencies. Even when they had not the ability to purchase 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 215 

all the books for such a supply, they could derive assistance from the 
parent institution, which, under such a general system, would be ena- 
bled to aid all those that might need, 

" ' But there are portions of the country where no Bible auxiliaries 
have as yet been formed, and other portions where they have been in- 
active and well-nigh extinct. That the needy in such localities may 
not perish for lack of the Bread of Life, the board are disposed to employ 
every lawful instrumentality in conveying this blessing to them. They 
would, in such circumstances, furnish Bibles, so far as in their power, 
to any benevolent institution which would see them conveyed to the 
dwellings where they are needed.' 

" Under the guidance of these sentiments, when the American Tract 
Society applied, the past summer, for books, to be circulated by those 
whom they were sending to the new settlements to distribute other 
books, the resolutions cited above were adopted. 

"A like grant of 500 Bibles and 1500 Testaments was made, the 
same year, to the American Sunday School Union, and ' it was par- 
ticularly desired, in both cases, that these books should not be distrib- 
uted where local auxiliaries of the Bible Society could perform the 
same work, if requested so to do. It is hoped by the board that these 
societies, and others of kindred nature, may tend to stimulate the aux- 
iliaries to action, and not, by performing their appropriate duties, to 
furnish them with an apology for inertness.' 

" The committee now find that, in places where there are no Bible 
auxiliaries, the distributions by tract colporteurs have been timely and 
useful, and in some instances, where the auxiliaries had become torpid, 
the call on them for Bibles had led them to a new activity in their 
work. 

" In other instances, where the views of the board, as above given, 
were not fully understood by the tract agents and colporteurs, there 
seems to have been a mingling of their duties and labors with those 
devolving on the Bible Society and its auxiliaries, which evidently 
needs some correction and future caution. 

" The committee, after examining these cases referred to, in connec- 
tion with the Report and resolutions above given, have been led to 
propose the following additional statements or articles, as expressing 
more fully, on some points, the principles and rules designed by the 
board to be observed in this mode of distribution : 

" Article I. In counties where auxiliary Bible societies are ready 
and willing to supply all the destitute within their limits, and are by 
their own appointed laborers actually engaged in this work, it is not 
expected that the colporteurs of the Tract Society will there find it 
needful to engage in the same work. 



1X6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" II. "When distributions of the Bible are made by the colporteurs of 
the Tract Society, it is not understood or expected that their distribu- 
tions will be general, but confined to families which are found to be 
destitute. 

" III. As it is not the design of the Tract Society to go into the work 
of Bible distribution but to the limited extent specified, and as the Bi- 
bles thus distributed are furnished gratuitously by Bible societies, these 
facts should be clearly stated by tract agents and colporteurs, when so- 
liciting funds, in connection with statements about Bible destitution, 
lest an impression be made that such funds go wholly or in part (as 
they never do) for the benefit of the Bible Society. 

" As the funds of the Bible Society are furnished for the exclusive 
purpose of circulating the Scriptures without note or comment, and 
furnished in part by those who are not connected with the Tract Soci- 
ety, it is not considered proper that any portion of said funds should be 
used in sustaining tract colporteurs, who circulate other books with the 
Bible. 

" By observing the spirit of these new explanatory articles in con- 
nection with the resolutions and statements of the board which precede 
them, it is beUeved that the agents and auxiliaries of the American 
Bible Society, as well as others concerned, will now understand the 
arrangement for Bible distribution through tract colporteurs, and then, 
with the exercise of that charity, courtesy, and prudence, which should 
ever characterize the servants of a common Master, that there will in 
future be no occurrence but what tends to harmony and increased use- 
fulness." 

As our object is to give a faithful history of all the 
transactions of the society on this particular point, and 
the policy from time to time adopted, we give the cir- 
cular of the corresponding secretaries of the American 
Tract Society, addressed to its colporteurs and agents 
in 1847, as follows : 

"THE BIBLE FOR THE DESTITUTE. 
" To the Colporteurs and Agents of the American Tract Society : 
" Dear Brethp>,en, — The Bible is God's gift to man — the only in- 
spired record of His truth. To it every man has an inalienable right. 
It commands all men to 'search the Scriptures,' as containing the 
words of ' eternal life,' and this involves the duty of giving the Bible 
to those who have it not. Hence the officers of this society rejoice 
that the colporteurs, while supplying with uninspired works those whom 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. j^|7 

their weary feet have reached, feel that they can not leave them des- 
titute of the Sacred Oracles ; and hence we cordially respond to the 
renewed appeals from colporteurs for so many copies of the Bihle as are 
needed to supply these destitute, and trust we shall spare no effort to 
provide them. 

" As a means of procuring these Bibles, we have naturally looked 
first to the American Bible Society, from whom partial supplies have 
already been received. Our Executive Committee, therefore, on the 
17th of May, made a request to that society for supplies, by unani- 
mously adopting the following minute, viz. : 

" ' The society's correspondence of the past year shows that a large 
number of colporteurs, penetrating the desolations of the country, have 
not been able to obtain Bibles for the families they have found desti- 
tute of the Word of God. By the statistical table in the Annual Re- 
port, the number of families reported by colporteurs as found destitute 
of the Bible is 14,665. From 43 colporteurs, however, no report ui 
respect to the Bible has been received ; and, on a careful examination, 
it is estimated that the whole number found destitute is not less than 
22,500 families. Of these families, the colporteurs, by their reports, 
have supplied 7107 with the Bible, leaving about 15,000 families 
which they w^ere unable to supply with the Bible, although they have 
reported 6384 Testaments as circulated. Of these 7107 Bibles and 
6384 Testaments, 500 Bibles and 1500 Testaments were granted by 
the American Bible Society. Making every allowance for Bibles 
which may have been supplied to the destitute and not reported, it ap- 
pears that more tha7i ten tliousaiid families visited by colporteurs dur- 
ing the year must have been left unsupplied by them with the Bible, 
from the impracticability of their obtaining Bibles. 

" ' The recent visits of the superintendents of colporteurs at the 
West to this city were made with a special view to securing supplies 
of Bibles, the demand for the destitute Protestant and Catholic Ger- 
mans, in their own language, being particularly urgent. This claim 
for supplies of the Bible they have pressed upon this committee with 
deep and anxious solicitude. So reluctant have some of the colporteurs 
been to leave families, whose attention had been awakened, thus des- 
titute of the Word of Life, that, failing in other efforts to obtain sup- 
pUes, they have purchased Bibles, often at enhanced prices, from their 
own scanty resources, at much personal sacrifice, and have even given 
their own pocket Bibles, that they might not leave those whom they 
might never meet again on earth without the Word of God. It is 
found that the colporteurs, in more destitute parts of the country, need 
each an average annual supply, for the destitutions they meet, of at 



l^lg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

least 100 Bibles and 200 Testaments. In view of these facts, it was 
unanimously 

" ' Resolved, That this committee respectfully request the board of 
the American Bible Society, should it be consistent, to furnish such a 
supply, that in no case, where Bibles can not be procured from other 
sources, shall the colporteurs of this society be compelled to leave fam- 
ilies unsupplied, by sale or gift, with a copy of the Sacred Oracles. 

" ' Resolved, That, grateful for the grants of 1500 Bibles and 4500 
Testaments heretofore made, this committee request the board of the 
American Bible Society to furnish Bibles in English, German, and 
other languages, in fair type, as shall from time to time be needed dur- 
ing the society's current year, to an amount not exceeding 10,000 Bi- 
bles and 15,000 Testaments ; and that this committee hereby propose, 
according as shall be the pleasure of tha,t board, either to return to the 
Bible Society all the moneys received from the sales, so far as the re- 
ceipts can be ascertained from the colporteurs' reports ; or, if the board 
prefer, to pay any proportion they may name, not exceeding one third 
of the value of the books, at the society's prices, the remaining two 
thirds or more to be a grant from the American Bible Society ; this 
committee wishing to assume no responsibility devolving on the honor- 
ed sister institution, but simply to invoke her aid in furnishing the Bi- 
ble to those met in prosecuting the labors of this society who need it, 
and whom it may guide to the only Redeemer. 

" ' Resolved, That the board be requested to furnish this committee 
with 2000 Bibles and 3000 Testaments in Enghsh, and 1000 Bibles 
and 1500 Testaments in German, as soon as shall be convenient.' 

" In answer to the above request, the Distributing Committee of the 
Bible Society adopted the following minute, which was sanctioned by 
their board on the 3d inst., viz. : 

" ' Resolved, That it be recommended to the board to grant the 
American Tract Society 1000 Bibles and 1500 Testaments in English, 
and 500 Bibles and 750 Testaments in German, to be disposed of on 
the principles set forth in the circular adopted in September last, i. e., 
that the books are to be disposed of where supplies, after proper effort, 
can not be obtained of the local auxiliaries ; and that the proceeds of 
the same, so far as they can be ascertained, be returned to the board, 
or used in purchasing Sacred Scriptures from the local auxiliaries. 

" ' The committee would further recommend that these books, in no 
case, be sold for more than the first cost, together with the cost of 
transportation to the place where they are distributed.' 

" Although the board of the Bible Society did not at once fully meet 
the request of our committee, we have reason to believe that such 
grants will be repeated, as far as that board shall become satisfied that 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. H^ 

destitutions exist which are uiisuppUed by their own auxiliaries and 
agencies. 

" As their minute imphes, they wish to supply the destitute, as far 
as possible, through their local auxiliaries, makmg grants for this pur- 
pose to such auxiliaries as far as necessary. This principle of action 
on their part creates no obstacle to the supply of colporteurs, so far as 
accessible local auxiliaries exist, which have supplies of Bibles, and 
are ready to furnish them for families found destitute : indeed. Bibles 
can be more conveniently obtained through such auxiliaries than by 
applying to the parent society. 

" The effort of this society will be simply to procure Bibles for those 
found destitute, in counties, districts, or neighborhoods, for whom Bi- 
bles can not otherwise be promptly procured ; and we think it import- 
ant distinctly to state, that while, on the one hand, this society at- 
tempts no general Bible distribution, and can not receive, from any 
source, even a penny of funds consecrated to the Bible cause, it is, on 
the other hand, no part of the duty of this society's colporteurs to or- 
ganize, or make protracted efforts to revive Bible auxiharies ; nor can 
the colporteur, when entering a destitute field, wait for a supj^ly of 
Bibles till after his visits to the destitute are made. The whole object 
of the present effort to obtain Bibles for those found destitute by col- 
porteurs will fail, unless the colporteur can have Bibles to take to the 
people with his other books, and supply the urgent wants as he meets 
them. It is essential, therefore, that colporteurs should, as far as pos- 
sible, anticipate the want of Bibles for the fields they are to occupy, 
and in their correspondence clearly state the facts in the case, that, if 
local supplies can not be obtained, this society may provide them. 

" You will perceive the proposal made by this society to pay one 
third of the cost of all Bibles thus received for distribution by colpor- 
teurs ; but the Bible Society have liberally made the whole a grant, 
with the understanding, which we hope every colporteur will scrupu- 
lously regard, that Bibles will be g^iven by colporteurs only where the 
destitute can not pay for them in whole or in part ; and that all mon- 
eys received for the sale of these Bibles will be either accounted in the 
quarterly reports, to be paid over to the American Bible Society, or 
used in purchasing Bibles from their local auxiliaries ; and that the 
Bibles will in no case be sold for more than the first cost, together with 
the cost of transportation. 

" Much responsibility will devolve on the colporteurs to conduct the 
whole matter discreetly, so that, while the destitute shall be supphed, 
the best interests of both the Bible and the Tract cause shall be ad- 
vanced. Christian confidence be strengthened, the welfare of dying men 
be promoted, and the Redeemer honored. 



]^20 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" With respect and Christian love, your brethren and fellow-labor- 
ers in the Gospel, 

" Wm. a. Hallock, \ 

" O. Eastman, V Corresponding Secretaries. 

" R. S. Cook, ) 

"New York, June 14, 1847." 

With a view of obviating all the difficulties that 
might exist between these two great benevolent asso- 
ciations, the Committee on Distribution presented a 
plan, which met the approval of the Board of Mana- 
gers, providing for the appointment of Bible Distribu- 
ters, After a notice of the fact that the British and 
Foreign Bible Society employ few distributers in En- 
gland, where there are vigorous auxiliaries, but adopt 
a different policy in France, Belgium, and Holland, 
where there are no such organizations, they remark as 
follows : 

"Now it is believed that there are sections of our 
widely-extended country where a departure from the 
auxiliary system is called for in our labors, on grounds 
similar to those which have led to a departure by the 
British Society. There are many places where little 
or nothing is now accomplished, but where active men 
specially devoted to the work would effect extensive 
distributions, and among the most needy of all our 
population. 

" The committee are aware that a good number of 
the local auxiliaries do now, and long have, employed 
and sustained Bible distributers of their own. This 
practice they would by all means encourage wherever 
there is local ability to sustain it, and where distribu- 
tions can not be effected by voluntary effort. There 
is, however, a large class of auxiliaries which, though 
well disposed, are feeble as to numbers, and can not 
furnish with the Bible the destitute within their lim- 
its. They are in localities where immigration is the 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. 



121 



most extensive ; where those without the Scriptures 
are too many and too widely scattered for the auxil- 
iaries to supply without help hoth as to books and dis- 
tributers. It is consequently found that, in many in- 
stances where books have been furnished gratuitously 
by this board, they have gone but slowly into circula- 
tion, for want of men to attend to this duty. Could a 
special Bible distributer have gone with these grants 
to Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, &c., not only 
would numerous destitute families have been sup- 
plied, but many who have a limited supply of Bibles 
would have purchased all they need when brought at 
low prices to their doors. 

" There seems, then, to the committee to be a neces- 
sity^ not only for employing distributers in places 
where there are no auxiliaries, but in some where 
they are too feeble to accomplish all which the situa- 
tion of those around them requires. 

"The following resolutions are therefore submitted: 

"1. Resolved, That local auxiliaries, where volun- 
tary distributers can not be obtained, be advised and 
requested to employ, every three or four years, one or 
more individuals at their own charges to explore 
their respective fields of operation, selling the Scrip- 
tures to all who may wish to purchase, and presenting 
them as a gratuity when there is inability to purchase. 

" 2. Resolved, That where an auxiliary feels it im- 
portant that an exploration of its field should be made, 
but has not the means of accomplishing this work, 
application (with a full statement of its condition) 
should be made to the parent society for such assist- 
ance as is found necessary, either as regards books or 
the payment of a distributer. 

" 3. Resolved, That where no auxiliaries are yet 
formed, and there are not materials for sustaining 
them, the Agency Committee be authorized to procure 



X22 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

and send thither well-qualified distributers, provided 
the compensation shall in no instance exceed one dol- 
lar per day, and necessary traveling expenses. 

"4. Resolved, That the distributer thus employed 
shall distribute such books only as are issued by the 
American Bible Society ; and that these, when sold, 
shall be sold on the terms proposed by the board in 
July last, namely, the plainly bound at cost and 
transportation, the better bound at an advance not 
exceeding ten per cent. 

''5. Resolved, That the expense incurred by these 
men, who are engaged only in the work of distribu- 
tion, be kept distinct from that of the ordinary collect- 
ing agents ; that the former shall be defrayed, as far 
as practicable, by the auxiliaries where they labor, 
and by special contributions for that purpose. 

^'6. Resolved, That a copy of the above statement 
and resolutions be forwarded to the society's agents 
now in employ, and their aid sought in carrying the 
same into effect. 

^'7. Resolved, That the agents, in seeking distribu- 
ters, should make thorough inquiry as to their qualifi- 
cations, and present the result to the agency commit- 
tee, with name, residence, and amount of compensa- 
tion required in each case, and the proportion which 
can probably be paid without calling on the parent 
society." 

The faithful carrying out of this plan will prove 
more effectual in supplying the destitute with the 
Scriptures than all the voluntary systems that could 
be adopted. 

It also effectually supersedes the necessity of dis- 
tributing the Bible through any other agency what- 
ever, especially where auxiliary societies exist. 

In almost every part of the home field, distributers, 
either appointed by auxiliaries or the agency commit- 



BIBLE DISTRIBUTERS. ][ 2 3 

Lee, are found engaged in the work, and provision 
will doubtless ere long be made to cover the entire 
field with well-qualified distributers. As the auxil- 
iaries become regular and systematic in their opera- 
tions, by holding regular meetings of the board, keep- 
ing on hand a good and well-assorted supply of books, 
having collections taken up annually in all the 
churches, holding anniversaries, and making regular 
reports and remittances to the parent board, we may 
confidently hope that in a short period, without any 
fitful excitement, the thousands of our own country 
will soon be supplied, and the millions of heathen 
lands visited with the light of salvation. 

These distributions, going out, as they do, from the 
parent society, and circulating through all parts of t^ie 
country, may not inaptly be compared to the flowing 
out of the blood from the heart through all the arteries 
of the system, carrying the pulsations of life to the 
remotest extremities. We realize in this country em- 
phatically the fulfillment of the promise, " Many shall 
run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." 

As the work of exploration progresses, the fact is 
disclosed that there are thousands of families in our 
land destitute of the Bible, and in many sections of 
the country the destitution is as great and greater 
than when originally supplied. This arises from the 
rapid increase of population by immigration and oth- 
erwise, and will require, in all time to come, increas- 
ing efforts on the part of auxiliaries to meet the de- 
mand. 



124 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. 

When our forefathers came to this country, it was 
the undisputed home and possession of the Indian. 
On its mountains, and over its vast prairies, and along 
its mighty rivers, he roamed in native freedom, the 
lord of the soil. His were these fertile valleys, and 
rich mines, and heautiful scenery. 

It would naturally suggest itself to every Christian 
and philanthropist, that for the temporal blessings they 
had received at the hands of the red man, spiritual 
blessings should be made in return ; that for " the 
bread that perisheth" should be given " the bread that 
endure th." 

How strikingly significant that emblem employed 
in the early history of our country, and how illustra- 
tive of the nature of our holy religion — the device 
represented an Indian presenting an ear of corn to the 
white man, and in return receiving a Bible ! Nor is 
this without its counterpart in history. The very first 
Bible sprinted on the American continent was Eliot's 
Indian Bible. It was printed at Cambridge, Massa- 
chusetts, at the expense of the corporation for the 
propagation of the Gospel in 1663. 

About twenty years afterward a second edition was 
issued. The translation of the Scriptures into the In- 
dian language was indeed an Herculean labor. The 
language of the natives had never been reduced to 
writing, and the work was one of immense toil. 

Among the very first objects that claimed the at- 
tention of the American Bible Society was the trans- 



BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. ]^25 

lation of the Scriptures into the Indian languages of 
our country; and, we helieve, the very first appropria^ 
tion made was a donation of one hundred dollars to 
the Her. Mr. Dencke, of the United Brethren Church, 
to aid him in the work of distrihuting the Gospels of 
John and Matthew, and the Epistles of John, in the 
Indian language, among the Delawares, three hund- 
red copies of which had heen sent him by the society. 

In 1820, two hundred and fifty of the Epistles of 
John, in Delaware, and thirty of the Gospel of John, 
in Mohawk, were sent to the missionaries of the 
United Brethren, and twenty-four copies of the latter 
to the Rev. Mr. Crane, a missionary among the Tusca- 
rora Indians. 

The succeeding year a supply of the Gospel of Johp., 
in the Mohawk language, was sent to a settlement of 
Mohawk Indians living near Lower Sandusky ; also 
to a village of the same tribe on the St. Lawrence a 
supply was sent. 

In 1826, through the medium of the Montreal Bi- 
ble Society, many copies of the Gospel of St. John, in 
Mohawk, had been faithfully circulated among the 
Indians residing at the Lake of the Two Mountains 
and at St. Begis, and also at the Caughnawaga vil- 
lage, where they were received with delight. The 
Indians of the above-named village were members of 
the Roman Catholic Church, and they convened a 
council of their chiefs to deliberate upon the propriety 
of receiving the Scriptures. The result of their de- 
liberations was a unanimous resolve that all their peo- 
ple should be at liberty to accept the Gospel. 

A fcAV grants of the Scriptures were made to the 
mission schools at difi'erent places among the Indians 
during the following year. 

In 1829, various grants were made to the aboriginal 
tribes, and a donation of Bibles and Testaments, in 



126 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



English, for the use of mission schools among the Sene- 
cas, was made ; also to the Cherokees and Choctaws. 

The following year, one thousand copies of the 
Gospel of St. Luke, in the Seneca language, was print- 
ed hy the hoard, and a supply sent to Rev. Mr. Harris, 
the missionary to the trihe. 

To the American Board of Commissioners for For- 
eign Missions were granted, at different times through 
the course of the year 1831, three hundred copies of 
Bihles and Testaments, for the use of Indian missions 
under their care. 

In 1833, the hoard made an appropriation of three 
hundred dollars toward printing an edition of three 
thousand copies of the Gospel of St. Matthew in the 
Cherokee language. 

An interesting Bible society was formed during the 
year among the Indians. 

An auxiliary having been previously recognized by 
the board among the Chickasaw Indians, this, on re- 
quest, was also taken into the great family, and treat- 
ed as a brother. 

A letter, containing the most interesting account of 
the happy effects of the reading of the Gospel in the 
conversion of the Indian from the error of his way, 
was received from the Rev. Mr. Washburn in 1835. 

In 1840, for the Methodist Missions in Canada, the 
board printed a portion of the Scriptures in the Mo- 
hawk tongue. The Book of Isaiah has been printed, 
and the manuscripts were ready for the Books of Gen- 
esis and Exodus. It was computed that eight thou- 
sand Indians would, by these translations, be put in 
possession of the Word of Life. 

During the following year, a missionary at the Bay 
of Quinte, in acknowledging the receipt of one hund- 
red copies of the Book of Isaiah in Mohawk, remarks, 
"At a meeting of the chiefs of the tribes, I was re- 



BIBLE AMONG THE INDIANS. J^ 2 7 

quested by tliem to assure the society, through you, 
that they accept this token of the society's interest in 
their spiritual welfare with sincere thankfulness.'' 

To the Rev. Samuel A. Worcester, of the Cherokee 
Mission, in 1842, the board made a donation of one 
hundred and twenty Bibles and Testaments. 

On request of Bishop Kemper, one hundred copies 
of the Book of Isaiah, in Mohawk, for the use of the 
mission at Green Bay, were granted. The bishop 
stated that *' there were ninety-nine communicants in 
the station." 

Among the disbursements of the year 1844, we find 
an appropriation of three hundred dollars toward print- 
ing portions of the New Testament in the Dacotah 
tongue, for the use of the Sioux. The translations 
were made by the Rev. Mr. Biggs and Dr. Williamson, 
missionaries of the American Board at the Lac qui 
Parle Mission, and were printed and bound at Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, under the inspection of Mr. Biggs and the 
Young Men's Bible Society. The work was well exe- 
cuted, and will be used by two or three denominations. 

In 1845, to the JVEssionary Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, for the Quapaw Indians, a grant 
was made of two hundred and fifty Bibles and Testa- 
ments. 

The Ojibwa New Testament, translated by the Be v. 
Mr. Hall, and other missionaries of the American Board 
near Lake Superior, had been adopted by the society, 
and was in a course of publication. 

Sixty Bibles were granted in 1845 to the Presby- 
terian Board of Foreign Missions, for the supply of 
mission schools among the Creek Indians. 

This year there was granted the sum of seven hund- 
red and forty-four dollars to aid in publishing parts 
of the Bible in the Cherokee language. The Chero- 
kee Bible Society was engaged in systematic distribu- 



228 AMERICANBIBLESOCIETY. 

tion. An appropriation was also made for the publica- 
tion of the Scriptures in the language of the Choctaws. 
In 1848, a supply of Bibles was granted to the 
Presbyterian Board of Missions for the stations among 
the Indians ; and two hundred were also granted to 
the American Board for the same object. 



CHAPTER XV. 

BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. 

A MISSION was established by the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church among the Flat-head Indians near the 
mouth of the Columbia, on the Willamette River, in 
the Oregon Territory, in the year 1833, and a small 
grant of Bibles was made to the missionaries. 

In 1844, two hundred Bibles and Testaments were 
granted to the Missionary Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church for the Oregon Mission. 

To the same society, for the same object, in 1845, 
were granted three hundred Bibles and Testaments. 

In 1846, seven hundred Bibles and Testaments, in 
English and German, for Oregon. 

The same year, to an independent missionary, one 
hundred and twenty-five, for the same territory. 

Also, for the same, to the American Board of Com- 
missioners for Foreign Missions, were granted three 
hundred and thirty-five Bibles and Testaments. 

To immigrants for Oregon were granted four hund- 
red Bibles and Testaments. 

Seven hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted 
to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in 1847, for the Oregon Mission, under the 
superintendence of the Rev. Mr. Roberts. 



BIBLE IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA. |29 

To the American Home Missionary Society were 
granted, in 1848, a large supply of Bibles, in the En- 
glish, German, French, and Spanish languages, for the 
same territory. 

From the Bibles granted the previous year to the 
Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
for the use of the Oregon mission, the following ac- 
count was furnished, showing the importance of send- 
ing further supplies : 

" The box of Bibles and Testaments given to the 
Methodist Missionary Society, and sent by said so- 
ciety to Oregon, was a blessing to the immigrants of 
that distant land. They were received by these ad- 
venturers on the shores of the Pacific with great 
thankfulness. Many of these immigrants had lost 
their Bibles in the rivers, on their way over the mount- 
ains, and to find the American Bible Society there 
with such a timely supply of Bibles was an unexpect- 
ed and exceedingly pleasurable event." 

The superintendent of the mission, Bev. Mr. Rob- 
erts, in acknowledging the receipt of two boxes of 
Bibles in 1848, says, '' Nothing more appropriate was 
ever brought to Oregon. Bomanism, Campbellism, 
Rationalism, Socinianism, and infidelity exist here 
in a state of crudity, waiting for some molding in- 
fluence to fashion them, and bring them forth in all 
their appalling features. A superficial religion, even 
in our evangelical chinches, threatens a destructive 
prevalence. The country is most trying and capti- 
vating to the Church. The high hopes of the colony 
and Church have recently been somewhat abated by 
the horrible massacre of Dr. Whitman and wife, and 
twelve white men, including two lads nearly grown, 
all Americans. I trust this awful providence will be 
sanctified to the good of the Church in Oregon, and 
also to the cause of missions. We are striving to sus- 

I 



l^Q AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

tain an orphan asylum and a small boarding school 
at the Tualatin Plains. The number of orphans left 
by the emigrants, without home or means of instruc- 
tion, has caused such an institution to be commenced." 
To California the board have sent, within a few 
months past, thousands of Bibles and Testaments. 
The hundreds of thousands who are flocking to that 
Ophir of the West and El Dorado of the poet, to wash 
its dust, and work its mines, and engage in various 
occupations, must be supplied with the Bible. No 
country in the world attracts so much attention at 
the present time as California. Many have gone who 
are doubtless prompted simply by the love of adven- 
ture, bu.t the great majority go to seek its gold. That 
Word, which, in the language of Zion's king, " is more 
precious than thousands of gold and silver, and more 
desirable than much fine gold," assures us, that earth- 
ly objects satisfy not. It is a pleasing reflection, that, 
notwithstanding the precious metal, to which inspira- 
tion compares the Bible, has become plentiful, the 
Word of God is more plentiful andxmore accessible. 
Eight hundred acres of valuable land have been given 
for a single copy of the English Bible ; now, it can be 
had without money and without price by all. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE INTO FOREIGN LANGUAGES. 

Before proceeding to give a detailed account of the 
society's operations in regard to translations of the 
Scriptures into foreign tongues, we hope to be pardon- 
ed the digression of giving a short history of the En- 
glish Bible. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 



131 



Tlie first translations of any portion of the Scrip- 
tures into the English tongue were in Anglo-Saxon 
verse, in the seventh century. 

Early in the eighth century the Psalms were trans- 
lated hy Adhelm, the first hishop of Sherhorne, and 
read in the churches. A Saxon version of the four 
Gospels was made hy Egbert, hishop of Lindisfern, 
who died in 721. At the close of this century the en- 
tire Bible was translated into the Saxon by the Ven- 
erable Bede. 

The death-scene of this venerable man was mark- 
ed with moral sublimity. His amanuensis is repre- 
sented to have said, while his pen was tracing upon 
parchment the last verse of the twentieth chapter of 
John, " There remains now only one chapter ; but it 
seems difficult for you to speak." " It is easy," replied 
Bede. " Take 3'our pen, dip it in ink, and write as 
fast as you can." "Now, master," said the monk, 
'' only one sentence is wanting." Bede repeats it. 
"It is finished," said the scribe. " It is finished !" re- 
pHed the dying saint; " lift up my head; let me sit 
in my cell, in the place where I have been accustom- 
ed to pray — and now glory be to the Father, and the 
Son, and the Holy Ghost." With these words upon 
his lips, his spirit passed away in peace to its God. 

In the ninth century, the Ten Commandments, and 
other passages from the 21st, 22d, and 23d chapters 
of Exodus, were translated by Alfred the Great, and 
prefixed to a code of laws. 

Portions of Proverbs, several of the historical books 
of the Old Testament, and the four Evangelists, were 
translated into both Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Norman. 

The "Waldenses had a translation of the Scriptures 
made in the year 1160, by Peter Waldo ; and the Wal- 
denses were the first colporteurs of the Scriptures, a 
fact worthy of notice. 



132 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



Very little more was done in the way of translation 
into our tongue until the fourteenth century, a period 
of five hundred years. This did not result so much 
from the opposition to the use of the Scriptures at that 
time, as from a general inability to read, which ex- 
tended to all people, both kings and subjects. The 
Word of Grod was now passing through the dark 
ages^ and it experienced its greatest obscuration from 
the tenth to the beginning of the fourteenth century. 
In the year 1274, a single copy of the Bible, in 
manuscript, of small size, was sold for the sum of one 
thousand dollars in our currency, an amount sufficient 
to purchase at the present time four thousand copies. 

About the middle of the fourteenth century this 
fearful eclipse began to pass of, and the light of Grod's 
Word began to break forth as the morning. The New 
Testament first, and then the Old, were translated by 
John Wiclif, and thus the moral Sun was permitted to 
shine out upon the Anglo-Saxon world in full-orbed 
splendor. To change the figure, -'the treasures of 
God's Word were unlocked to the English nation." 
Church and State rose up in opposition to it as though 
both hated its light, but the Divine hand which sent 
it sustained and kept it from destruction. Other 
translations were made by the followers of Wiclif. 

In 1526, William Tyndal translated the New Testa- 
ment, and, not long afterward, the entire Bible was 
translated. He had studied the Hebrew and Greek 
for twenty years, and was well versed in those lan- 
guages. He wrote to the reigning king, and implored 
his clemency to grant that the bare text of Scripture 
might be circulated among his people, offering his 
body to tortures and death, if necessary, as a sacrifice 
for so great a boon to man. 

He was obliged to flee from England ; but his zeal 
was unconquerable. In his self-banishment he printed 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 



133 



the New Testament, copies of which found their way- 
back to England. They were read with avidity. 
They were prohibited, collected together, and burned, 
and those who possessed them imprisoned ; while he 
hiiAself, the man who first printed any part of the 
Bible in our language, was arrested, strangled to death, 
and his body burned to ashes. 

In 1534, Miles Cover dale commenced a translation 
soon after Tyndal's imprisonment. The work was 
completed in one year, and dedicated to Henry VIII. 
This version was also made and printed on the Con- 
tinent. 

In 1537, through the intercession of Archbishop 
Cranmer, the Old and New Testaments, with a few 
corrections, was printed in England, under the name 
of Mathew's Bible, "set forth by the king's most gra- 
cious license." 

Other translations were made, particularly one by 
Cranmer, called the " Great Bible." Its printing was 
commenced in Paris, but the inquisitor general seizing 
the sheets and burning them, the publishers fled to 
England and completed it there. 

For several years the Scriptures, in different versions, 
were circulated and read. It was supposed, at the 
close of Edward's reign in 1553, that one hundred and 
seventeen thousand copies were in circulation among 
the English people. 

In the reign of Mary the use of the Scriptures was 
prohibited ; but Coverdale, with the English exiles, 
who had gathered at Geneva, prepared still another 
version in 1557. 

In the time of Elizabeth, in 1560, the Old Testa- 
ment, of the Geneva version, was published in connec- 
tion with the New. Cranmer's Bible, corrected by 
Archbishop Parker, published by authority, was used 
in the churches for a period of forty years, and called 



134 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the "Bishop's Bible," and it was afterward made the 
basis for the present received version. 

The New Testament was translated at Bheims in 
1582 ; the Old at Douay in 1609. Both together con- 
stitute the Douay Bible. This is the standard of the 
Roman Catholics, and, though full of errors, could not 
be made to teach the dogmas of popery were it not for 
its copious notes. 

Our present version was made in the reign and at 
the instance of King James I. It was first proposed 
incidentally by Dr. Reynolds, of Oxford, at a conven- 
tion for other purposes at Hampton Court. The object 
of the new version was to have a common standard, 
to which all might appeal in matters of controversy ; 
one that should be free from errors, and untrammeled 
with notes. 

Forty-seven translators were employed, who were 
selected on the ground of eminent attainments in bib- 
lical literature. They were divided into six classes, 
and held their meetings at Oxford, Cambridge, and 
Westminster. The names of the persons, the places 
where they met, together with the portions of Scrip- 
ture assigned to each company, are as follows : 

Ten at Westminster — the Pentateuch ; the history 
from Joshua to the First Book of the Chronicles, exclu- 
sively — Dr. Andrews, afterward bishop of Winchester ; 
Dr. Overall, afterward bishop of Norwich ; Dr. Saravia, 
prebendary of Canterbury ; Dr. Clark, fellow of Christ's 
College, Cambridge ; Dr. Laifield, fellow of Trinity, 
Cambridge: being skilled in architecture, his judgment 
was much relied on for the description of the Taber- 
nacle and Temple ; Dr. Leigh, archdeacon of Middle- 
sex ; Mr. Burgley, Mr. King, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Bed- 
well, of Cambridge. 

Eight at Cambridge — from the First of Chronicles, 
with the rest of the history, and the Hagiographa, viz., 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. ^35 

Jobj Psalms, Proverbs, Canticles, Ecclesiastes — Mr. 
Lively, Mr. Richardson, fellows of Emanuel; Mr. Chad- 
derton, Mr. Dillingham, fellow of Christ's College ; 
Mr. Andrews, afterward master of Jesus's College; Mr. 
Harrison, the reverend vice-master of Trinity College ; 
Mr. Spalding, fellow of St. John's, Cambridge, and 
Hebrew professor there ; Mr. Bing, fellow of Peter- 
house, Cambridge, and Hebrew professor there. 

Seven at Oxford — the four greater prophets, with 
the Lamentations, and the twelve lesser prophets — 
Dr. Harding, president of Magdalen College ; Dr. 
Reynolds, president of Corpus Christi College ; Dr. 
Holland, rector of Exeter College, regius professor; 
Dr. Kilby, rector of Lincoln College, and regius pro- 
fessor ; Mr. Smith, afterward bishop of Gloucester, who 
composed the learned and religious preface to the 
translation ; Mr. Brett, Mr. Fairclowe. 

Cambridge — the Prayer of Manasseh, and the rest 
of the Apocrypha — Dr. Duport, prebendary of Ely, and 
master of Jesus College ; Dr. Brainthwait, afterward 
master of Gouvil and Caius College ; Dr. Radclyffe, 
a senior fellow of Trinity College; Mr. Ward, after- 
ward D.D. and Margarett professor; Mr. Downs, fel- 
low of St. John's, and Greek professor ; Mr. Boyse, fel- 
low of St. John's ; Mr. Ward, of King's College, after- 
ward D.D., prebendary of Chichester. 

Oxford — ^the four Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and 
Apocalypse — Dr. Bavis, afterward bishop of London; 
Dr. Abbot, afterward archbishop of Canterbury; Dr. 
Eedes (instead of whom Lewis has James Montague, 
bishop of Bath and AVells) ; Mr. Thompson, Mr. Savill, 
Dr. Peryn, Dr. Ravens, Mr. Harmer. 

Westminster — the Epistles of St. Paul, and the other 
canonical epistles — Dr. Barlowe, afterward bishop of 
Lincoln ; Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. Spencer, Mr. Fenton, Mr. 
Rabbet, Mr. Sanderson, Mr. Dakins. 



136 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

To each class was assigned a certain portion of the 
Scriptures. Each and every individual in that depart- 
ment translated by himself the portion assigned to the 
whole class, and the several translations were read by 
the class, which together agreed upon the final read- 
ing. The portion thus finished was sent to each of 
the other classes, again to be revised. By this arrange- 
ment every part of the Bible passed the scrutiny of all 
the forty-^even translators successively. These trans- 
lators were empowered to call to their aid any learned 
men whose studies enabled them to throw light upon 
any points of difficulty. The completion of this work 
occupied three years, and the lives of all the men who 
commenced the work were spared to witness its suc- 
cessful close. 

With this translation all evangelical denominations 
are satisfied, and, though not regarded by them as the 
ultimate appeal in matters of religious controversy, 
yet its authority is regarded as sufficiently valid in all 
ordinary discussions of a theological character. In 
the language of one, '' The translators seized the yerf 
soul and spirit of the original, and transferred it to our 
language." 

Suspicions having been awakened in England some 
years since in regard to the integrity of the present En- 
glish Bible, and charges being made of numerous and 
wide departures from the first edition of the translators, 
and many letters and pamphlets being published to 
substantiate those charges, the authorized printers of 
the Bible at Oxford University published a fac simile 
of the first edition of King James, in order that it might 
be compared with modern editions. 

The Board of the American Bible Society procured 
one of these copies, and, feeling it a duty to institute 
a rigid comparison between it and the standard copy 
of this Society, appointed a supervising committee. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. ^37 

consisting of one member from each religious denom- 
ination connected with the society. The editor of the 
society's publications, having in the library a great 
number of Bibles issued during the last three ceur 
turies, was requested to go through the same, and 
learn when and where the changes commenced. The 
committee patiently assisted him in the comparison, 
and the result of all their labors was that the varia- 
tions were unimportant, such as capital letters, com- 
mas, italic words, &c., such as in no way aifected the 
sense. This investigation has placed that incompara- 
ble version of King James on higher ground than ever, 
and their hope is that all future translations may be 
equally well guarded. 

Since the first edition of this history was publish- 
ed, a committee was appointed, to whom the subject 
of revision was referred. The committee entered upon 
their labors in 1847, and brought them to a close in 
1851, at which time they made a report to the Board. 
After giving a history of the present authorized 
version, and the relations which it sustained to those 
which preceded it, together with the circumstances 
which attended the labors of King James's translators, 
they then specify the various editions in which changes 
had been made from the standard, among which are 
the following : 

"An edition of King James's Bible was printed in 
octavo at Amsterdam in 1664, with a preface by John 
Canne, a leader of the English Brownists. His pur- 
pose was to 'mdkeScri'ptuTe the interpreter of Scripture^ 
by the addition of important marginal references ' so 
far as the margin could contain.' 

"In England 'many parallel texts' were added by 
Dr. Scattergood, in an edition published at Cambridge 
in 1678. 



138 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

''Two years later, 1680, an edition was issued at 
Oxford, with the insertion of Usher's Chronology. 

" More important was the Bible published in folio 
and quarto in 1701, under the direction of Dr. Ten- 
ison, ArchbishojD of Canterbury. In this edition Dr. 
Lloyd, then Bishop of Worcester, added the chron- 
ological dates at the head of the columns, and a fur- 
ther collection of parallel Scriptures. At the end 
were also appended tables of Scripture measures, 
weights, and coins, by Dr. Cumberland, Bishop of 
Peterborough. 

"The most complete revision of the English Bible 
was that undertaken at Oxford by Dr. Blaney, about 
A.D. 1767, under the direction of the vice-chancellor 
and other delegates of the Clarendon press. Accord- 
ing to his instructions, the Oxford copies were care- 
fully collated with the folio edition of 1611, that of 
Dr. Lloyd in 1701, and two Cambridge editions of a 
late date. The work occupied between three and four 
years, and in 1769 both a quarto and a folio edition 
were published at the Clarendon press, of which the 
folio was supposed to be the most perfect. 

"Your committee are not aware that any later gen- 
eral revision or collation of the English Bible has 
taken place in Great Britain. About twenty years 
ago, the public mind in that country and in our own 
was, for a time, agitated by the charge openly made 
against our present English Bibles, that they had 
been greatly corrupted from the original edition, and 
that what we now have is not the English version as 
prepared by King James's translators. In conse- 
quence of this charge, the Clarendon press issued in 
1833, in quarto, an exact reprint in Roman letter of 
the folio edition of 1611 in black letter. 'The re- 
print is so exact as to agree with the original edition 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. I39 

page for page, and letter for letter, retaining through- 
out the ancient mode of spelling and punctuation, 
and even the most manifest errors of the press."* 

"The publication of this reprint tranquilized the 
public mind; for it presented ocular demonstration 
that, with tlie exception of typographical errors, and 
of the changes conformed to, and required by, the 
progress of orthography in the English language, the 
text of our present Bibles remains unchanged, and 
is without variation from the original copy as left by 
the translators. 

"Appended to this reprint is a collation made 
with one of the copies of the year 1613, two years 
after the original edition. The variations are about 
three hundred and seventy-five in number, exclusive 
of the Apocrypha. AYhether the editions of 1613 
were printed under the supervision of the translators 
probably can not now be known. The variations 
may be divided into three classes, viz.. Manifest er- 
rors of the press in the copy of 1611 ; manifest errors 
of the press in the copy of 1613 ; other variations 
from the reading of 1611, but whether with or with- 
out design is not always certain. We subjoin speci- 
mens of each class in the modern orthography. It 
may be proper here to add that, w^ith the exception 
of the first class, or errors of the press, the present 
copies of the Bible accord throughout with the edi- 
tion of 1611. 

1. ]\LA>sIFEST EEEOKS OF THE PRESS IN 1611. 





IGll. 


1613, and 2')resent copies. 


Ex., 38, 11. 


hoops of the pillars 


hooks of the pillars 


Lev., 4, 35. 


shall burnt them 


shall burn them 


'• 13, oG. 


the plaine be 


the plague he 


" 17, 14. 


Ye shall not eat 


Ye shall eat 


Jer., 5, 24. 


rain . . . the later 


rain . . . the latter 


" 22, 3. 


deliver the spoiler 


deliver the spoiled 



140 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



1611. 
Jer.j 50, 29. hath done unto her 
Ez., 6, 8. that he may have 
" 24, 7. poured it upon 



1613, and present copies. 
hath done, do unto her 
that ye may have 
poured it not upon [ets 



Hos., 6, 5. shewed ^/zem by the prophets hewed themhji\\Q proph- 

2. MANIFEST EKROKS OF THE PRESS IN 1613. 



Gen., 42, 31. 
Lev., 7, 25. 

" 19, 10. 

" 26,24. 
Deut., 19, 5. 

1 Kings, 3, 15. 

" 20, 3. 

2 Kings, 22, 3. 
2 Chron., 6, 10, 
Job, 29, 3. 
Isaiah, 59, 7. 
I-Ios., 13, 3. 
Matt., 13, 8. 

1 Cor., 11, 17. 

2 Cor., 2, 8. 



1611, and pj^esent copies. 
we said unto him 
the fat of the beast 
shalt not glean 
also walk contrary 
slippeth from the helve 
and offered peace offerings 
even the goodliest 
eighteenth year of 
in the room of David 
I walked through darkness 
shed innocent blood 
smoke out of the chimney 
some sixty fold 
I praise you not, that 
would confirm your love 



1613. 
we said unto them 
the fast of the beast 
shalt glean 
also wake contrary 
slippeth from the helme 

Omitted 
even thy goodliest 
eighteenth were of 
in the throne of David 
I shined through darkness 
shed blood 
smoke out the chimney 

Omitted 
I praise you that 
would continue your love 



3. OTHER VARIATIONS FROM THE READING OF 1611. 



Gen., 2, 24. 
" 12, 14. 
. " 27, 44. 
Lev., 26, 40. 
Judg., 16, 30. 
Isaiah, 7, 3. 
" 49,2. 
John, 5, 3. 
Eev., 2, 18. 
" 5, 4. 



1611, and present copies. 
and shall cleave 
she was very fair 
fury turn away 
the iniquity 

upon all the people [ub 
Ahaz, thou, and Shear-j ash- 
mouth like a sharp sword 
a great multitude 
feet are like fine brass 
no man was found worthy 



1613. 
and cleave 
she was fair 
fury pass away 
the iniquities 
upon the people 
Ahaz, and Shear-j ashub 
mouth a sharp sword 
a great company 
feet aire like brass 
no man was worthy 



"A careful examination of preceding lists, and the 
evident absence of all plan in the deviations from the 
edition of 1611, except in the first class, will prob- 
ably lead most minds to the conclusion that the al- 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 141 

terations of the above third class are also mostly, if 
not all, merely errors of tlie press, which have been 
corrected in later editions. 

RESULTS. 

"The results of the preceding historical investiga- 
tions may be thus stated : 

" That the edition of 1611, although prepared with 
very great care, was not free from typographical er- 
rors ; and that, while most of these were corrected in 
the editions of 1613, others in much greater number 
were nevertheless then introduced, which have since 
been removed. 

"That the edition of Dr. Lloyd in 1701 was disfig- 
ured by like errors of the press ; and these were in- 
creased to such an extent that, in 1724, the correct- 
ors of the press employed by the various patentees 
were required to be approved by the Archbishop of 
Canterbury and the Bishop of London. 

"That the revision of Dr.Blaney, made by collating 
the then current editions of Oxford and Cambridge 
with those of 1611 and 1701, had for its main object 
to restore the text of the English Bible to its original 
purity ; and that this was successfully accomplished, 
to as great a degree as can well be expected in any 
work of like extent. 

LIABILITY TO ERROR. 

"It may perhaps be supposed that, after such a 
revision, and especially after the corrected copies of 
1806 and 1813, it would be no difficult matter to 
keep up the standard of correctness at the same ele- 
vated point. Such an expectation, however, could 
never be cherished by those who have had much prac- 
tical experience in relation to the press ; and especial- 



142 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

ly when we take into account that the printing of 
Bibles is carried on in Great Britain at four different 
places, and in this country entirely ad libitum^ and 
that each copy contains, on an average, more than a 
thousand closely printed pages, it must be regarded 
as beyond the power of all human skill, even with the 
aid of stereotype plates, to prevent the occasional oc- 
currence of minor errors and variations, arising some- 
times from accident, and sometimes from the inad- 
vertence of proof-readers. Along with all these, too, 
there is certainly the possibility that some slight over- 
sights may have remained uncorrected throughout 
all the editions, even from the very beginning." 

"The attention of the committee was first drawn 
to the subject under consideration at their meeting, 
October 6th, 1847. At that time Mr. Secretary 
Brigham communicated to them that the superin- 
tendent of printing found many discrepancies still ex- 
isting between our different editions of the English 
Bible, and also between our editions and those issued 
by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Several 
specimens of such discrepancies were exhibited to the 
committee, relating mostly to the use oi Italic ivords^ 
capital letters^ and the article a or an. After consid- 
eration, the committee submitted the matter to the 
Board of Managers for counsel and direction. 

"At the meeting of the Board of Managers on the 
next day, October 7th, 1847, the matter was taken 
up and considered, and was referred back to the Com- 
mittee on Versions, with directions to have the nec- 
essary collation made, and report the result to the 
Board. 

"The committee, February 1st, 1848, resolved 'that 
a suitable person be employed to collate the principal 
editions of the English Bible published by this soci- 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. I43 

ety with the latest British editions, and report from 
time to time to the committee.' 

"A well-qualified collator was soon engaged, and 
commenced the collation of the English Bible, as direct- 
ed by the Board, beginning with the New Testament. 

"After several f mother meetings, the following se- 
ries of resolutions w^ere adopted, as expressing the 
general views to which the committee had been led 
by their examination and experience hitherto, and to 
serve as rules for their future guidance : 

" ' 1. That the royal octavo edition of the English 
Bible issued by this Society be adopted as the basis 
for corrections. 

" '2. That the said American copy be compared 
with recent copies of the four leading British editions, ' 
viz., those of London, Oxford, Cambridge, and Edin- 
burgh, and also with the original edition of 1611. 

" ' 3. That the comparison include the orthograjyhy^ 
capital letters^ ivords in Italic^ Q^Tidi punctuation.' (To 
these were added in practice the contents of the chap- 
ters, and the running heads of the columns.) 

'"4. That so far as the English copies are uniform^ 
the American copy be conformed to them, unless oth- 
erwise specially ordered by the committee. 

'"5. That the collator be instructed, in his further 
labors, to apply the principles and cases previously 
adopted and decided by this committee ; and that 
hereafter he lay before the committee only such cases 
as have not before been acted upon, or such as may 
seem to need further consideration. 

'"6. That in respect to the indefinite article, the 
form an be used before all vowels and diphthongs 
not pronounced as consonants, and also before h si- 
lent or unaccented ; and that the form a be employ- 
ed in all other cases.' 



144 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

''After further examination and experience, at a 
meeting of the committee, September 22d, 1848, the 
following additional rules were adopted : 

"'7. That in cases where the four recent British 
copies, and also the original edition and our own copy, 
vary in punctuation^ the uniform usage of any three 
of the copies shall be followed. 

" ' That when the London, Oxford, and Cambridge 
editions agree in the use or omission of the hyphen 
in compound words, the same usage be adopted. 

" 'That when the term Scripture or Scriptures re- 
fers to the whole volume of inspired truth, it begin 
with a capital letter ; but when the reference is to 
some particular portion, it begin with a small letter.'" 

"1. Words. — Here, on the very threshold, we light 
upon an inconsistency in respect to the gender of a 
pronoun in the edition of 1611, which all the modern 
editions have only made worse. Thus in Ruth, iii., 
15, all the present copies read, 'And she went into the 
city;' but the Hebrew and the translators have it, 
'And he went into the city.' Again, in Cant., ii., 7, 
all the present copies read, ' Nor awake my love, till 
he please;' but the Hebrew and the translators, 'till 
she please.' Yet in Cant., iii., 5, and viii., 4, where 
the Hebrew is precisely the same, the translators and 
all the copies have 'till he please.' All these in- 
stances have, of course, been corrected according to 
the Hebrew. 

"In Isaiah, i., 16, the present copies read, 'Wash 
you,' where the translators put 'Wash ye.' This is 
according to the Hebrew, and has been restored. 

"2. Orthography. — The committee entertain a 
reverence for the antique forms of words and orthog- 
raphy in the Bible, where they do not conflict with a 
clear understanding of the sense ; but when these 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 



145 



forms have become obsolete and unintelligible, or 
have already been changed in some places and not in 
others, or where in themselves they are of no import- 
ance, there seems to be no valid reason for longer re- 
taining them. The following examples still occur in 
the English editions, but have mostly already been 
changed in the Edinburgh and American copies. 
Many of them are variations from the edition of 1611. 



Gen., 8, 1. 
" 11,3. 



30, 37. 
31,10. 
39,6. 

49, 27. 
7,18. 



Ex. 



" 12, 22. 

" 31, 10. 

" 33,22. 
Lev., 14, 42. 
Lev., 25, 9. 
Num., 10, 25. 
Deut., 15, 17. 

'• 24, 6. 
Judges, 5, 22. 
2 Sam., 15, 12. 
2 Chron., 2, 16. 
Nehem., 9, 1. 
Isaiah, 41, 7. 

" 59, 17. 
Jer., 2, 22. 
Ezek., 40, 31. 
Matt., 27, 48. 
Acts, 7, 28. 

" 14,6. 
1 Tim., 2, 9. 
Rev., 14, 20. 



English copies, 

asswaged 

morter 

throughly 

strakes 

grisled 

ought 

ravin 

lothe 

bason 

cloths 

clift 

plaister 

jubile 

rereward 

aul 

milstone (Tr. Lond.) 

pransings 

counseller (Tr. Lond. Cam.) 

flotes 

sackclothes 

sodering 

cloke 

sope 

utter court 

spunge 

diddest 

ware 

broidered (Tr. broided) 

horse bridles 



Corrected. 
assuaged 
mortar 

thoroughly (Tr. Cam.) 
streaks 
grizzled 
aught 
raven 

loathe (Tr.) 
basin 

clothes (Tr.) 
cleft 
plaster 
jubilee 
rearward 
awl 

millstone (Ox.) 
prancings 
counsellor (Ox.) 
floats [1, 13) 

sackcloth (as in Joel, 
soldering 
cloak (Tr.) 
soap 

outer court 
sponge 
didst 
aware 

braided [Greek), 

horses' bridles (so the 



'' In expressing the plurals of such Hebrew words 



146 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

as are not rendered in the text, the translators adopt- 
ed the plural form of the Hebrew in -im^ but with the 
superfluous addition of an 5, as cheruhimSj seraphims, 
Nethinims, Anakims, etc. This is strictly wrong, and 
is not in accordance with present usage. The s has 
therefore every where been dropped in such words : 
as Gen., iii., 24, Isaiah, vi., 2, 6, etc. 

"In respect to the particles of exclamation^ and 
Oh, it appears on examination that the former (O) is 
every where used before a vocative case, while before 
an optative we find both: 'O that,' Deut., xxxii., 
29, Psalm Iv., 6 ; and 'Oh that,' Job, vi., 2, Jer., ix., 1. 
In order to maintain the proper distinction, the form 
Oh has every where been retained with the optative, 
leaving as the sign of the vocative. 

"The forms of the indefinite article, a or an, have 
been adjusted throughout according to the sixth rule 
above given. In order to show the necessity of the 
rule, the following examples of inconsistency in all the 
copies, from first to last, are here selected : 



Gen., 25, 25. 


an hairy 


Matt., 5, 14. 


an hill 


" 27, 11. 


a hairy 


Josh., 24, 33. 


a hill 


Judges, 4, 21. 


an hammer 


Ex., 28, 32. 


an hole 


Jer., 23, 29. 


a hammer 


2 Kings, 12, 9. 


a hole 


Gen., 38, 15. 


an harlot 


Ex., 19, 6. 


an holy 


Joel, 3, 3. 


a harlot (Ox. 


an) Isaiah, 30, 29. 


a holy 


1 Sam., 16, 16. 


an harp 


Matt., 10, 12. 


an house 


" 10, 5. 


a harp 


Mark, 3, 35. 


a house 


Isaiah, 25, 2. 


an heap 


Ruth, 1, 12. 


an husband 


" 17, 11. 


a heap 


a a 


a husband (Ox. an) 


"2. Proper Names. 


— There exists 


in the Old Test- 



anient a very considerable diversity in writing He- 
brew proper names in English. Thus the names of 
the first seven patriarchs of the world, as they appear 
in Genesis, iv., and as they are now usually written, 
are, Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. I47 

Enocli; but in 1 Chron., i., sq.^ the same are record- 
ed as Adam, Sheth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, 
Henoch, the Hebrew forms being in both places pre- 
cisely the same. When such names occur singly in 
the narrative, and there would occur no marked dif- 
ference in the pronunciation, the form in the Old 
Testament has been restored. 

Corrected, 
Judah 
Gomorrah 
Zion 
Noah 
Jonah 
Canaan 

Sinai ^ 

Melchizedek 
Sarah 
Gideon 
Korah 
Kev., 2, 14. Balac Balak 

"3." Compound Words. — The eighth rule prescribes 
that the usage of the English copies be followed in 
respect to the insertion or omission of the hyphen in 
compound words. 

"5. Words in Italics. — These were inserted by 
the translators to fill out the English idiom, in cases 
where the Hebrew and Greek usage omits the copula 
or other connecting or dependent words. These in- 
sertions were carefully revised and compared with the 
original by Dr. Blaney; but, notwithstanding his 
diligence, quite a number of errors have been detect- 
ed, some of which belong to the translators. The 
following are examples : 

''Exod., viii., 21, 22, 24, 29, 31. Here the recent 
copies all read, 'Swarms of/lies,'' while in Psalms, 
Ixxviii., 45, and cv., 31, the same Hebrew word is 





Former Reading. 


Matt., 2, 6. 


Juda 


" 10, 15. 


Gomorrha 


" 21, 5. 


Sion 


" 24,37. 


Noe 


John, 1, 42. 


Jona 


Acts, 7, 11. 


Chanaan 


" 7,30. 


Sina 


Heb., 5, 6. . 


Melchisedec 


" 11, 11. 


Sara 


" 11,32. 


Gedeon 


Jude, 11. 


Core 



148 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

rendered ' divers sorts of flies,' without Italics. In 
all these passages the edition of 1611 has no Italics. 

" Judg., ix., 53. The edition of 1611 and all others 
here read, 'And all to brake his skull.' This has been 
often misunderstood, and has been sometimes printed, 
' and all to break ;' but ' all to' is an antique form, sig- 
nifying ' altogether, ' and was last so used by Milton. 
It here gives an emphasis to ' brake' which is not in 
the Hebrew. The committee have therefore put all4o 
in Italics, with a hyphen. 

''7. Parentheses. — Our collation has shown that 
very many parentheses have been introduced into the 
text since the edition of 1611. Some of these are fit 
and proper ; but in general they only mar the beauty of 
the page, without adding any thing to perspicuity. In 
some instances, too, they have the force of commentary. 
For these reasons, those not inserted by the translators 
have been in great part omitted; as inHom., v., 13-17; 
xi., 8; 2 Cor., xii., 2; Gal., i., 1 ; Rev., ii., 9, etc. 

CONTENTS OF CHAPTERS. 

"As these constitute no part of the text, the com- 
mittee have made some changes to avoid quaint, ob- 
solete, ambiguous, and inappropriate words. A few 
specimens are given : 

Gen., 20. He is healed by Abraham's prayer. 

Corrected: At the intercession of Abraham he is healed. 
Gen., 22. Isaac is exchanged with a ram. 

Corr. A ram is sacrificed instead of Isaac. 
Gen., 50. He dieth, and is chested. 

Corr. He dieth, and is embalmed. 
Num., 3. The firstborn arc freed by the Levites. 

Corr. The firstborn are taken instead of the Levites. 
Num., 14. Moses persuadeth God, etc. 

Corr. Moses intercedeth with God, etc. 
Deut., 20. Trees of man's meat. 

Corr. Fruit-trees. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. I49 

1 Sam., 16. Samuel sent by God, under pretense of a sacrifice, com- 
eth to Beth-lehem. 

Corr. Samuel sent to Beth-lehem to anoint one of the sons of Jesse. 
Esth., 5. He buildeth for him a pair of gallows. 

Corr. He buildeth a gallows for him. 
Isaiah, 45. He convinceth the idols of vanity. 

Con\ The vanity of idols. 
Ezek., 18. God reproveth the unjust parable of sour grapes. 

Corr. God reproveth the people for their unjust parable of the 
sour grapes. 
Matt., 1. The angei satisfieth the misdeeming thoughts of Joseph. 

Corr. The angel removeth the doubts of Joseph. 

" Such is the account which the committee have to 
render to the Board of Managers of their stewardship 
in this work, although this account, and the few speci- 
mens above presented, can of course afford no adequate' 
idea of the time, the attention, and the labor bestowed 
on the work by the sub-committee and the collator 
during the period of three years. 

''As illustrating the necessity of the present colla- 
tion, and the remarks already made upon the exposure 
to variation and error in the printing of so many mill- 
ions of copies, it may suffice here to mention that the 
number of variations recorded by the collator,' solely 
in the text and punctuation of the six copies compared, 
falls but little short of twenty-four thousand. Yet of 
all this great number, there is not one which mars the 
integrity of the text, or affects any doctrine or precept 
of the Bible. 

' ' In thus closing their labors, the committee desire, 
with grateful praise to God, distinctly and formally to 
state that no decision whatever has been made, and 
nothing ivhatever has been done, except ivith entire una- 
nimity on the part of the committee and those acting 
with them.'''' 

By reference to the society's records, we find that 



150 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the first translation made under the patronage of the 
society of the Bihle into foreign languages was that 
for the Delaware Indians, In 1818, the Rev. Mr. 
Dencke, of the United Brethren Church, stationed at 
New Fairfield, in Upper Canada, translated the Gos- 
pel of John. One thousand copies were printed, one 
hundred of which were given to Mr. Leuchenbach for 
distribution. The Epistles of John, John's Gospel, 
and that of Matthew, were printed with the English 
on one page and the Indian on the other. 

The Gospels of John and Mark were translated into 
Mohawk for the use of the Six Nations, one thousand 
copies of which were printed. 

In 1825, further translations into the extensive lan- 
guage of the Six Nations occupied the attention of the 
board. This year the New Testament was translated 
into the Peruvian language. 

The translation into the Mohawk of several other 
parts of the New Testament was made in 1826. 

In 1828, the society assisted Dr. Carey in transla- 
ting the Scriptures into the languages of India. 

In 1829, parts of the New Testament were trans- 
lated into the Hawaiian language, for the use of the 
Sandwich Islanders, and an edition of fifteen thousand 
copies was published. 

In 1830,. an edition of the Gospel of St. Luke, in 
the Indian language, was translated and printed for 
the Seneca Indians, and one thousand copies put in 
circulation. 

In 1833, the Gospel of Matthew was translated into 
the Cherokee language, and also parts of the New 
Testament in the Mahratta language, for the use of 
missionaries at Bombay. 

In 1835, the Psalms were translated into the He- 
brew and Hebrew- Spanish languages, for the use of 
the Spanish Jews in the Ottoman Empire. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE 15^ 

During this year the managers sent the following 
resolutions to the missionary stations : 

" Resolved^ That the managers view with deep in- 
terest and with fervent gratitude to God the growing 
zeal manifested hy auxiliary societies and friends of 
the Bible in this country toward the circulation of the 
Holy Scriptures in pagan, Mohammedan, and other 
foreign countries, and which, in their judgment, is 
among the signal indications of Divine Providence in- 
viting the nations of Christendom to the great enter- 
prise of converting the world. 

" Resolved^ That from the encouraging prospect of 
continued and liberal contributions in aid of this work, 
the managers look with peculiar satisfaction on the 
efforts of American missionaries, of different religious 
denominations, in translating the Scriptures into the 
various tongues and dialects used at their respective 
stations. 

" Resolved, That the managers hope to receive in- 
telligence whenever the Old Testament or the New, 
or any one entire Gospel, or other book of the Bible, 
is correctly translated and ready (without note or com- 
ment) for the press ; and that the missionaries be en- 
couraged to expect that, on giving such intelligence, 
they shall receive the aid requisite for the publication 
of the same. 

" Resolved, .That any information which the mis- 
sionaries may communicate from time to time in re- 
gard to translations, distributions, mode of receiving 
the Scriptures in their own vicinity or among sur- 
rounding nations, or any suggestions in relation to the 
great interest of the Bible cause, will be thankfully 
received and carefully considered by the board. 

^' Resolved, That a copy of the above resolutions 
be sent to all the American missionary stations 
abroad, accompanied by a suitable explanatory cir- 



152 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



cular, prepared and signed by the corresponding sec- 
retary." 

The above resolutions show that the society was 
constructed upon a scale of benevolence extensive as 
the wants of man. 

The report of 1836 shows an increased interest in 
regard to the work of translating and circulating the 
Scriptures in heathen countries. 

As all the appropriations for translating and pub- 
lishing foreign Scriptures had up to this time been 
made through missionary societies, after mature de- 
liberation, in which the interests of the missionary 
work in general was carefully consulted, it was de- 
termined on by the board to appoint suitable agents, 
who should be immediately responsible for their opera- 
tions, and co-operate with the missionaries in trans- 
lating the Scriptures. 

Several important principles were settleU in regard 
to the establishment of these agencies, one of which 
was, that the Bible agent on each station shall be of 
the same religious denomination as that to which the 
missionaries on the ground belong. Another princi- 
ple was, that they receive the same compensation that 
the missionaries in similar circumstances receive. 

The board were called upon, by circumstances oc- 
curring during the year, to R^ definitely the principle 
upon which new translations of the Scriptures into 
foreign tongues should be made. In regard to the En- 
glish Scriptures, the character of the version was set- 
tled by the Constitution, namely, " the version now in 
common use," and that '' without note or comment." 

Although the Constitution is silent in regard to the 
character of foreign Scriptures, yet the very design of 
the society, as announced in its first address, in the 
clearest terms and the most rigid exactness excludes 
every thing of a local or sectarian character. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. j^ 5 3 

The slightest yariation from this principle would 
mar the harmony of the religious compact, and the con- 
fusion of tongues and clash of instruments consequent 
thereon Avould arrest the progress of the mighty work. 

To preserve the unity and harmony so essential to 
an institution uniting in its operations all the evan- 
gelical churches of the land, the following rules were 
adopted : 

''Resolved, That in appropriating money for the 
translating, printing, or distributing the Sacred Scrip- 
tures in foreign languages, the managers feel at liber- 
ty to encourage only such versions as conform in the 
principles of their translation to the common English 
version, at least so far as that all religious denomina- 
tions represented in this society can consistently use. 
and circulate said versions in their scA^eral schools and 
communities. 

" Resolved, That a copy of the above preamble and 
resolutions be sent to each of the missionary boards 
accustomed to receive pecuniary grants from this so- 
ciety, with a request that the same may be transmit- 
ted to their respective mission stations where the 
Scriptures are in process of translation, and also that 
the said several missionary boards be informed that 
their applications for aid must be accompanied with 
a declaration that the versions which they propose to 
circulate are executed in accordance with the above 
resolutions." 

In reply to this wise regulation of the board, the 
Foreign Committee of the Board of Missions of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church adopted the following 
resolution : 

''Resolved, That this committee entirely approve of 
the principle adopted by said board, ' in making ap- 
propriations for the circulation of the Scriptures in all 
foreign tongues, viz., that only such versions be en- 



254 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

couraged as conform in the principles of their transla- 
tion to the common English version, at least so far as 
that ail the religious denominations represented in the 
American Bible Society can consistently use and cir- 
culate such versions in their several schools and com- 
munities.' " 

A copy of the above resolution was sent to the 
board, and also to their missionaries in Greece, China, 
India, and Persia. 

The Prudential Committee of the American Board 
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, after quoting 
the regulations of the board, passed the following 
resolution : 

''Resolved^ That the principle contained in the fore- 
going regulations conforms with the usages of the 
missionaries of the board in translating the Scriptures, 
so far as known to the committee ; and that the sev- 
eral missions of the board be instructed to make it the 
basis of every translation made, printed, or distributed 
at the expense of the board, or of the American or any 
other Bible society." 

The Board of Managers of the Missionary Society 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church passed the follow- 
ing resolution : 

'^ Resolved, That we cordially approve of the regula- 
tions of the Board of Managers of the American Bible 
Society in relation to the translation of the Scriptures 
into foreign languages, and we will take special care 
that all future translations made by our society shall 
conform thereto." 

In 1838, the New Testament was translated by the 
society in Japanese, for the inhabitants of the island 
of Japan. 

The Old Testament, as far as Joshua, was trans- 
lated this year into the Hawaiian language, for the 
Sandwich Islanders. 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. ][ 5 5 

In 1839, one of the Gospels was translated into the 
Cherokee language. 

The Old and New Testaments, in Armenian; the 
Old, in Armeno-Turkish and Hebrew-Spanish; and 
some portions of the Arabic and Syriac, were trans- 
lated, under the direction and at the expense of the 
society, this year. 

The Tamul Scriptures were also translated for the 
inhabitants of Ceylon. 

In 1840, the Gospel of St. Matthew and the Acts 
of the Apostles were translated into the Grebo tongue, 
for the inhabitants of Western Africa. The Book of 
Isaiah was also translated into the Mohawk language 

In 1844, the New Testament, in the Dacotah tongue, 
for the use of the Sioux, was translated ; and also the^ 
New Testament in Ojibwa, for a tribe of Indians of 
that name near Lake Superior. 

In 1845, the New Testament was translated into 
modern Syriac for the Persians at Ooroomiah ; and 
also the Old Testament into modern Armenian. 

In 1847, the Hebrew- Spanish Scriptures, for the use 
of the Spanish Jews, and the Hebrew- German Scrip- 
tures, for German and Polish Jews, in Russia, were 
translated. The Gospel of St. Matthew was also trans- 
lated in the Urdu tongue, the Punjabee, and Hindee. 

Thus it will be seen that the society has been en- 
gaged in carrying forward the work of translation, as 
well as publishing and circulating the Bible in foreign 
countries. 

It hg^s introduced the Bible to the inhabitants of the 
West Indies, Spanish America and Brazil, France, 
Russia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, at different points in 
India, China, Chin-India, the Sandwich Islands, and 
among five tribes of our aborigines. 

Since its organization the society has directly secur- 
ed the translation of the Bible into upward of twenty 



156 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

diiSerent languages, and assisted in rendering it into 
fifty others, while it has promoted its circulation in all 
languages. 

The subject of Bible translation has constituted one 
of the most important, and, perhaps, one of the most 
difficult features of the society's operation since its 
commencement. 

In this connection, we deem it proper to notice an 
unhappy collision growing out of this subject. The 
difficulty originated with the Baptist Church, which 
had, prior to 1835, co-operated with the society in the 
great work of extending the circulation of the Scrip- 
tures. 

We will endeavor to state, in a fair and impartial 
manner, the ground of this difficulty, and the discus- 
sions arising therefrom, together with the subsequ.ent 
action of the Baptist Church in the formation of a sep- 
arate Bible society. 

At a regular meeting of the Board of Managers, Mr. 
Brigham, corresponding secretary of the parent society, 
presented a letter from F. A. Packard, dated Philadel- 
phia, July 28, 1835, sending an extract of a letter 
addressed to him by Mr. Pearce, of Calcutta, Baptist 
missionary, asking whether aid could be had from the 
American Bible Society in printing the Bengalee Scrip- 
tures, translated on the principle adopted by the Ameri- 
can Baptist missionaries in Burmah. 

This letter was referred to the Committee on Dis- 
tribution. As the result of their deliberations, they 
presented to the board the following resolution : 

''Resolved^ That the committee do not deem it ex- 
pedient to recommend an appropriation until the 
board settle a principle in relation to the translation 
of the Greek word /3a7TTi^a)." 

After discussion the resolution was passed, and the 
subject referred to a committee of seven, one from 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. ]^57 

each denomination represented in the Board of Mana- 
gers. 

The following report was presented by the special 
committee. 

They state that '' in the investigation of the subject 
the following facts have come before them : 

" 1. The Rev. Messrs. Pearce and Yates, Baptist mis- 
sionaries in or near Calcutta, have made application 
to this board for aid in publishing the New Testament 
in the Bengalee language, in which version the Greek 
words f^an-L^G) and fSanTLGfjia and their cognates are trans- 
lated by words signifying ioninerse, immersion, &c. 

"2. In the Burmese version of the New Testament, 
and in other versions in the languages and dialects of 
Lidia, these words are translated in a like manner. 

''3. Application has been made to the Calcutta Bi- 
ble Society and Lo the British and Foreign Bible So- 
ciety for aid to print and circulate the Bengalee New 
Testament translated as aforesaid, which aid has been 
refused on the ground of its containing said transla- 
tions ; and 

" 4. Your committee were not aware until now that 
such translations were made and approved by any de- 
nomination of Christians in India or other heathen 
countries. 

" o. Your committee would therefore most respect- 
fully submit, whether it is not highly inexpedient to 
aid in printing or circulating any version of the Scrip- 
tures containing the above or any similar translations 
differing from the sense of the authorized versions, for 
the following reasons : 

''1. The words jSaTrn^G) and ^a-nriaiia and their cog- 
nates being left untranslated, as in the English and 
many other excellent versions, imposes no difficulty 
on any denomination of Christians, as it leaves every 
minister or missionary at perfect liberty to explain 



158 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



them according to the peculiar views of his denomina- 
tion. 

" 2. The words jBanrc^G) and jSanriofia, &c., being trans- 
lated mi7ne7'se, immersion, &c., will necessarily em- 
barrass, if not wholly exclude, the operations of mis- 
sionaries of the Methodist, Moravian, Reformed Dutch, 
Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Congregational, and other 
Christian denominations, who may endeavor to propa- 
gate the Gospel in India, or where the said transla- 
tions may obtain ; and 

"3. It is not competent for the American Bible So- 
ciety to assume any sectarian attitude by favoring the 
denominational views of any particular church, either 
at home or abroad." 

In view of the above facts and views, the committee 
submitted the following resolutions : 

'' 1. Resolved, That the Board of Managers deem it 
inexpedient to appropriate any funds belonging to the 
society in aid of translating or distributing the afore- 
said Bengalee Testament, or any other version con- 
taining the aforesaid translations, or any similar trans- 
lations. 

"2. Resolved, That the Board of Managers, on re- 
ceiving satisfactory evidence of such corrections hav- 
ing been made in the aforesaid translation of the Ben- 
galee New Testament, or other versions in other lan- 
guages or dialects, as will comport with the known 
views of other Christian denominations, or, in other 
words, with the obvious intention of the authorized 
English version, will most cheerfully aid in the print- 
ing and circulation of said version or versions as here- 
tofore. 

"3. Resolved, That all persons interested in the 
foregoing resolutions be informed of their piu'port 
forthwith." 

To this report Bev. Spencer H. Cone, D.D., a Bap- 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. I59 

tist and one of the committee, protested, on the ground 
that in 1834 the American Bible Society resolved to 
distribute the Bible among all the accessible popula- 
tion of the globe, and to this end sent ch'culars to the 
missionaries of the different denominations, encoura- 
ging them to expect aid, and whenever it should be 
communicated that they had correctly translated the 
Bible or any portion of it, the society would publish 
the translation. 

The gentleman above named affirmed that the board 
acted unjustly in refusing the request of Messrs. Pearce 
and Yates, because their request was but a response 
to this circular. 

It would appear from this that a similar request 
was never made before by the Baptist missionaries, 
and hence Dr. Cone bases the application upon the 
enlarged benevolence of the circular, and justifies 
Messrs. Pearce and Yates in taking advantage of it. 
Now all this would do well enough were there not 
something beneath it of the most doubtful character, 
to say the least of it. It appears, on investigation, that 
the Burmese translation made by Dr. Jiidson, and 
which had been published by the funds of the Ameri- 
can Bible Society, was not in accordance with the 
principles of the society governing translations, hav- 
ing the disputed words translated as in the Bengalee 
version, and that the society was kept ignorant of 
this fact until, upon investigation. Dr. Spencer H. 
Cone admitted it for the jirst time. The Baptists as- 
sume that their translation is " correct and fcdtliful^'' 
the very point in dispute and that which is to be 
proved. That it was " correct and faithfid^^ accord- 
ing to the peculiar vievv^s of the Baptist denomination, 
no one, we presume, will be disposed to question ; but 
that it was " correct and faithful" in the estimation of 
all the other denominations was not true, all of them. 



IQQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

without exception, objecting to the exclusive meaning 
attached to those terms by the Baptists. 

That the action of the board in refusing to aid in 
the publication of a sectarian Bible was " unjust" and 
" illiberal," we are unwilling to believe there is a can- 
did Baptist acquainted with all the grounds of the 
controversy will deliberately assume. 

It is known that the uniform policy of the society 
from the commencement down to the present time has 
been carefully to avoid every thing of the slightest 
sectarian tendency. 

If it were just and proper for the American Bible 
Society to expend thousands in publishing transla- 
tions for the Baptists, in which the word baptize is 
rendered immerse, then with equal propriety would 
it be just and proper for it to expend tens of thousands 
in publishing translations where the same word would 
be rendered to sprinkle or pour^ to suit the numerous 
Psedo-Baptist denominations represented in the board 
and co-operating with the society. 

Besides, who ever heard of such a demand before ? 
Can it be shown any where that it ever was the prac- 
tice of any general society, uniting different denomina- 
tions, to allow one part of that union to appropriate to 
itself exclusive benefits, though we would be disposed 
freely to admit its consistency, did such an arrange- 
ment enter into the compact ? 

How is it with the Sunday School, Tract, or Edu- 
cation Societies ? Are these unions allowed to make 
books, and circulate them at home or abroad, that 
only one denomination can use ; or to appropriate 
their funds for the education of pious and talented 
young men of only one denomination ? No ! the very 
idea is preposterous ; and the only thing that aston- 
ishes us is that so large, intelligent, and influential a 
denomination as the Baptists would do itself so much 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. ^gj 

injustice and injury as to make and urge sucii a 
claim. 

But, lest we should be charged with having given 
an ex parte view of the subject, we shall proceed to 
present all the arguments offered by the friends of the 
cause on the Baptist side of the question. 

It was urged as a reason why the board should 
grant the request of the missionaries in publishing the 
Bengalee Testament, that they had changed their 
policy, inasmuch as they had previously published 
versions of the same character. 

To this it is replied that they never i?i a single case 
granted aid to a version which they knew at the same 
time to be of such a character that only a part of their 
associates could consistently use. They took it for> 
granted that no church would ask for a version favor- 
ing exclusively their peculiar views, and hence they 
aided all who made application. They have since 
found that they were deceived in two instances. The 
one was a case where a small edition of an Indian 
Gospel was printed, in which the word iSanrL^o) was 
translated by a term which signifies to sprinkle or 
pour. The other was the aforesaid Burmese transla- 
tion, where the same word is rendered immense. Had 
the peculiarity of these translations been known at 
the time, they never would have been assisted. 

Another reason offered on the Baptist side was, that 
other denominations were allowed to make such for- 
eign versions as suited their peculiar views. , 

To this it is answered simply that such a charge is 
wholly without foundation, and that no denomination 
ever has or ever can be allowed to make translations 
other than such as can be consistently used by all the 
denominations in the compact. 'The society allows 
of no partiality. 

Again, the board are charged with laying down 



2g2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

rules in regard to versions which Baptist translators 
can not conscientiously follow. 

The answer to this is, that the hoard lay down no 
rules hut such as the general ohjects of the society re- 
quire, and such as the compact necessarily enjoins ; 
and, if these rules are unrighteous and oppressive, let 
those who appoint the hoard place men there who will 
reform the Constitution so that Baptists shall have 
exclusive privileges, and he allowed to appropriate its 
funds for printing Bihles in all the dead and living 
languages to suit their peculiar views. 

It is remarkahle that those of our Baptist friends 
who urge these ohjections to the American Bihle So- 
ciety from conscientious scruples, do not insist upon 
^^ faithfullif translating every word in the original 
texts, inasmuch as they ohject so strongly to transfer- 
ring. And if the '' correct" translation of (Sanri^G) is so 
essential, why does not the *' American and Foreign 
Bihle Society" translate the word in its English ver- 
sion ? It is charged, again, that the hoard have 
patronized the use of German and Dutch Bihles, in 
which the word (ia-nn^Gi is translated immerse, or hy 
words which signify the same thing. 

The answer to this is simple, and found in the Con- 
stitution. The former versions are " ancient received 
versions,^'' such as the founders of the society promised 
to patronize ; and, furthermore, those words referred to 
have now lost their original meaning, and hecome of 
as wide a signification and use as the English word 
baptize. 

Again, it is charged that the hoard have set up the 
English Bihle as a standard, to which all translations 
must he conformed. 

The resolutions al30ve cited, and to which the so- 
ciety strictly adheres, show this to he unfounded. 
Missionaries and others, in making new versions, are 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 



163 



required by these rules to translate from the original 
tongues, and their imitation of the English is not ex- 
pected to extend any further than the transference of 
a few words which either can not be translated, or 
concerning the meaning of which there are disputes 
which divide the evangelical churches composing the 
compact; and even these transfers are not required 
where the various members of the society can unite in 
using the versions as they do the English. 

The last charge m'ged is, that the American Bible 
Society has received forty or fifty thousand dollars 
from Baptists, and but very partial appropriations have 
been made to that denomination ; that the society is 
guilty of injustice in not refunding what is still due. 
This is a very grave and serious charge, and, if true,' 
would certainly present the society in a very unfavor- 
able light. 

A. subject of such moment demands investigation. 
As a reference to the science of numbers will be the 
most satisfactory mode of settlement, perhaps it would 
be well to publish a statement, and, as figures can not 
deceive, it will be an easy task to determine the na- 
ture of this charge. 

It will be necessary, however, before proceeding to 
this work, to state, that the Baptists, as a church, have 
seceded from the American Bible Society, and have 
organized one of their own of a purely denominational 
character. Notwithstanding this, a highly respectable 
and valuable portion of the Baptist denomination in 
the Eastern, Middle, Southern, and Western States 
are still in union with the national institution, and 
that portion of the Baptist Church are not to be re- 
garded as claimants on the aforesaid funds. 

The following statement is presented : 



164 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



American Bible Society in account with that portion of the Baptist 
Church which seceded therefrom in 1835. 
Dr. 

1830. To legacy from J. Fleetwood Marsh $10,000 

Do. " " John Withington 7,000 

1831. To legacy from Josiah Penfield 1,000 

To five life directors, for which the money 

was paid by the Baptist Society 750 

To life members, one hundred and fifty. ... 4,500 
To donation from Dr. L. Barker, to aid in 

building the Bible House 30 

To Bible distribution in Burmah 1,000 

Contributions made through auxiliaries by 

members of the Baptist Church $30,000 $54,280 

Cr. 

By an equal share of Bibles received for dis- 
tribution in our country S25,000 

For the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, 
for the exclusive use of that denomination 
in preparing and circulating the Scriptures 
in France, Germany, Bengal, and Burmah 27,000 

For Messrs, Pasco and Love, Baptist mis- 
sionaries in Greece, 12,993 portions of the 
Scriptures . 5,000 $57,000 

Leaving a balance in favor of the American 

Bible Society of $2,720 

By the will of the late Mr. Marsh, the American Bi- 
ble Society is a residuary legatee, of which there are 
between one and two hundred. Should any thing 
ever be realized, it will be appropriated in the same 
way in which the legacy of that benevolent gentle- 
man was appropriated, viz., in furnishing English, 
German, and French Bibles for the mixed population 
of our country. 

That portion of the Baptist Church, as we have al- 
ready seen, which was unwilling to have their foreign 
versions made to conform to the common English 
version, withdrew from the American Bible Society, 
and, at a convention held in Philadelphia in April, 



TRANSLATIONS OF THE BIBLE. 165 

1837, oro'anized a new societv under the name and ti- 
tie of the American and Foreio;n Bible Society. The 
specific object of this organization was set forth in the 
first article of the Constitution, namely, "to promote 
a wider circulation of the Holy Scriptures in the most 
faithful versions that can be procured." This prin- 
ciple was rigidly adhered to by the society until its 
annual meeting in May, 1850, at which time the society 
resolved, by an overwhelming majority, not to attempt 
any revision of the Holy Scriptures, or to countenance 
it in others. By this action the society receded from 
all the ground it had taken at its organization against 
the American Bible Society, and now acts, as we are 
informed, with that Society in perfect harmony, ob- 
taining its English Scriptures and some foreign ver- 
sions from its depository. 

The controversy, however, did not end here. There 
was a portion who adhered to the original principle, 
insisting upon a revision of the English Scriptures ; 
and accordingly, at a meeting held on the 10th of 
May, 1850, the American Bible Union was organized 
upon the same principle which the former society had 
repudiated. It has already engaged in the work of 
revision, and professes to have in its employ biblical 
scholars from nine dififerent denominations in Europe 
and America. The work embraces not only the En- 
glish Scriptures, but also the German, Spanish, Ital- 
ian, and French. It professes also to be unsectarian, 
leaving each translator and revisor to be governed by 
the established canons of interpretation, and making 
the received English version the basis of the revision. 
How far the society will succeed in imjoroving the 
present version of the English Scriptures, time alone 
must determine. 



IQQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOOIETr. 



CHAPTEUXVII. 

BIBLE IN CANADA. 

Through the Vermont Bible Society the managers 
forwarded a lot of Bibles for distribution in Canada. 

In 1822, the want of Bibles was found to be very 
great, and, at the request of the above-named efficient 
auxiliary, another supply of French Bibles was sent to 
that country for sale and gratuitous distribution. 

In 1828, on the solicitation of the Rev. Thaddeus 
Osgood, a distinguished philanthropist, the board pre- 
sented to the Bible Society of Montreal a supply of 
Bibles for the use of the poor in that region. 

During the year 1834, one thousand Bibles and 
Testaments were intrusted to Mr. Hoyt for distribu- 
tion in Canada. The wishes of the Montreal Bible 
Society were fully met in this matter, and it was by 
their direction the distribution was effected. 

The corresponding secretary of the above society, 
the year following, remarks as follows in regard to 
the distribution: "We have reason to believe that the 
distribution made through Mr. Hoyt has been faithful. 
The people seem very thankful for the kindness shown 
them. It is evident, from Mr. Hoyt's report, that the 
destitution is still very great, and prompt measures 
should be taken to supply the destitute. In several 
of the letters which have been received, the demand 
borders on the clamorous." 

In the annual report of the same society, speaking 
of the section of country where Mr. Hoyt has been 
laboring, it is stated that, although many books have 
been distributed, there will be required, according to 



BIBLE IN CANADA. IQ^ 

estimate, an additional supply of more than two thou- 
sand. 

To Sanstead was sent, in 1836, three hundred Bi- 
bles and Testaments. These were presented through 
the Vermont Bible Society. 

During the same year a supply of Bibles was sent, 
on the request of Archdeacon Wix, of Newfound- 
land, for the use of fishermen on the coast of Labrador. 

A similar request was made by the same person for 
the use of the destitute of Newfoundland. The pop- 
ulation of this island, which was estimated at sixty 
thousand, were represented as being very poor, and in 
great spiritual destitution: as an instance, it was stated 
that some of them had been on the island seventy 
years, and in all that time had not heard one Gospel 
sermon. The emissaries of the Church of Rome take 
advantage of their ignorance of the Word of God, and 
are active in instilling the superstitions of their Church. 

To supply the wants of the settlers between St. 
John's and the Bay of Islands, near the Straits of Belle 
Isle, the board sent to the archdeacon four hundred 
Bibles and Testaments. 

In 1837, the board made a grant of one thousand 
dollars to the Missionary Society of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, to aid the work of foreign distribu- 
tion at their several missionary stations in Canada, 
South America, and Africa. 

In the year following a grant of three hundred Bi- 
bles and Testaments was made to the American Bap- 
tist Home Missionary Society, for distribution by their 
missionaries in Canada. 

The same year, the Montreal Bible Society having 
resolved, in the shortest period practicable, to place a 
copy of the Bible in the hands of all the destitute in 
the province willing to receive it, the board, for the 
purpose of assisting them in this benevolent work, 



IQg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

made a grant, at two different periods, of six thousand 
four hundred Bihles and Testaments. 

The report of the Montreal Bible Society for 1839 
contained encouraging statements of the progress of 
the work of Bible distribution. Two causes operated 
unfavorably to the enterprise : the first was the politi- 
cal agitations in the country, and the second the op- 
position from the Roman Catholic priesthood. 

An agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society 
has been laboring in the provinces, and established a 
depository at Montreal. A correspondent of the board, 
in describing the condition of the country^ makes the 
following remarks : . 

" God only knows what awaits this guilty land, but 
light kept back for two centuries begins to break in 
upon papacy, the dark cloud is turning a brighter side 
on the Egyptian host, there is increasing evidence 
that the day-star is rising in Catholic Canada, that 
her long and dreary night is giving the missionary 
and the traveler tokens of dawn, and the blessings 
appointed for her make haste. The Scriptures are 
distributed there with a facility, and received and 
read with gratitude and tears hitherto unknown. 
The papal clergy hate and oppose. The Bible burns 
the priest, and the priest burns the Bible ; but this 
only increases the light, and people inquire, and run 
together, and read more than if he had not laid his 
forbidden hand upon the sacred Volume." 

The next year ^ye hundred French Testaments were 
sent to the Montreal Society for distribution and sale. 

In 1842, one hundred and fifty Bibles and Testa- 
ments were granted to Madame Feller, of the" Swiss 
mission in Canada. 

The following year, to the same lady, for the same 
object, four hundred and fifty French Bibles and Test- 
aments were granted. 



BIBLE IN CANADA. ^69 

During the year 1845, to the French Canadian 
Missionary Society, on application of the Rev. Caleb 
Strong, of Montreal, were granted one hundred French 
Testaments. 

During the year 1848, on application of the Rev. 
Mr. Wolf, there were granted to the French Canadian 
Missionary Society two hundred and fifty French Bi- 
bles and Testaments. For the use of the schools and 
destitute families at Grand Ligne, on request of 
Madame Feller, were granted three hundred Bibles 
and Testaments in the French language. 

The previous year, on application of the Rev. H. 
Wilson, of Canada, for the use of a colony of colored 
persons, the board granted seven hundred and fifty Bi- 
bles and Testaments. 



CHAPTER XYIII. 

BIBLE IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA. 

In presenting to the reader a view of the operations 
of the society in the countries named at the head of 
this article, we shall avail ourselves of all the informa- 
tion within our reach which may serve to throw light 
upon the interesting subject of the introduction of the 
Bible into these countries, and the extent of its difiu- 
sion among the inhabitants. 

From an American gentleman residing in Mexico, 
the managers received information, in 1826, that the 
Scriptures which had been sent there were gladly re- 
ceived by all classes of people. A correspondence, by 
the foreign secretary, was immediately opened with 
an intelligent person in the city of Mexico in relation 



3^70 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

to the circulation of the Scriptures. A communication 
from Mr. John C. Brigham, an agent of the American 
Board, who resided in South America, but who, by his 
personal knowledge and extensive correspondence, was 
well acquainted with the condition of Mexico, stated 
it as his opinion that, in all the states, comprehending 
a population of seven millions, there had not been dis- 
tributed more than two thousand Bibles. 

Several grants of Bibles, in the Spanish, language, 
were sent during the year to agents in Mexico. 

A letter from Mr. Brigham, dated Vera Cruz, states 
that, on his way from the city of Mexico to that place, 
he stopped at Puebla, a city of seventy thousand inhab- 
itants, and made an arrangement with the principal 
bookseller in regard to the purchase of Bibles for re- 
sale, and also with the American consul at Vera Cruz, 
who assured him of his willingness to take charge of 
them. 

During the subsequent year, Spanish and French 
Bibles and Testaments were sent to Matamoras, Tam- 
pico, Puebla, and Mazatlan. 

In 1828, five hundred Bibles and Testaments were 
intrusted to a gentleman who was going to Matamo- 
ras, and several boxes of Bibles were sent to the Amer- 
ican consul at Mazatlan, to be sent by him to the city 
of Mexico and other important places in the interior. 

A lengthy communication was received during the 
year from Mr. James Thomson, an agent of the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society, residing in the city of 
Mexico. 

The letter was addressed to the Rev. Dr. Milnor, 
Secretary for Foreign Correspondence of the American 
Bible Society, and contained responses to several in- 
quiries addressed to him in regard to the circulation 
of the Bible in that country. 

The principal inquiry related to the reception of the 



BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. , j^ ^ 1 

Protestant Bible, or the canonical, uncommented Scrip- 
tures. It appears, from his communication, that soon 
after he had commenced the work of distribution, sev- 
eral articles appeared in the papers impugning, in the 
strongest terms, the free use of the Scriptures by all 
classes without note or comment, and they protested 
stoutly against what they were pleased to call the mu- 
tilated Bible in the want of the Apocrypha. These 
articles were all written by priests. A pleasing fact 
was developed in this controversy, and that was, that 
while some priests condemned the Protestant Scrip- 
tures, other priests came forward, unsolicited, and, in 
the same journals, advocated most strongly the unre- 
stricted use of the Bible without note or comment. 

The object of the society to translate the Word pf 
God into all languages, and to circulate it among all 
people, met the favor of many priests in Mexico ; and 
three of them, one of whom was the president of a col- 
lege, became members of the society by the payment, 
annually, of a guinea a piece. 

We have often wondered why it is that in all papal 
countries there are some Koman Catholic priests found 
to favor the reading and circulation of the Bible, while 
in Protestant countries, bishops, priests, monks, friars, 
and nuns all join in the general cry of prohibition, and 
look with horror on Bible Societies. 

In France there are hundreds of priests engaged in 
the work of distribution, while in the United States 
you can not find one. The agent had sent to him, 
from London, three thousand three hundred Spanish 
Bibles and Testaments, all of which he disposed of at 
cost and carriage in less than nine months; fifteen 
hundred of these were sold in the city of Vera Cruz 
in a few weeks. The remainder were sold at Quere- 
taro, Zelaya, Guanajuato, San Juan de Los Lagos 
(where a fair was annually held, a splendid temple 



172 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

erected, and the idol worshiped an image of the Vir- 
gin Mary), Aguas Calientes (where the first legal pro- 
cess was instituted by a priest, before the alcalde, 
against the circulation of the Scriptures in that coun- 
try, but which signally failed), Zacatecas, San Luis 
Potosi, and Guadalajara. 

Besides these Scriptures, there were sold in these 
places large quantities of the Gospels, Acts of the 
Apostles, Psalms, Proverbs, &c., bound in separate 
volumes. 

There was but one diocese in Mexico which pro- 
hibited the circulation of the Bible. 

In 1829, a gentleman residing at Chihuahua, occu- 
pying a public station there, but who was formerly a 
citizen of the United States, communicated to the 
board the intelligence that it was his opinion that, 
among the one hundred and twenty-one thousand in- 
habitants of that state, there were not eight copies 
of the Spanish Bible. His official duties led him to 
every part of the state, and hence he had an oppor- 
tunity of forming a correct judgment. 

A quantity of Bibles and Testaments was sent 
there, and also a box to the western coast. 

The distracted state of the country during the suc- 
ceeding year prevented the society from accomplish- 
ing any thing in the way of the distribution of the 
Scriptures. 

Nothing more was done until 1834, when, on appli- 
cation of Mr. Sumner Bacon, a grant of Spanish and 
English Bibles was made for the province of Texas. 
In speaking of the destitution there among natives, 
and English or Americans, he remarked, that, from an 
extensive acquaintance, he believed that nine out of 
every ten in the jurisdiction of Nacogdoches were 
without the Bible. 

This gentleman offered his services as an agent 



BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 



1 7 3 



without compensation. His generous proposals were 
accepted, and a supply sent to him, as requested. 

The following year Mr. Bacon succeeded in organ 
izing several auxiliaries. 

In 1838, four hundred Bihles and Testaments were 
sent to Texas, and five hundred copies of the Gospel 
of St. Matthew, in Spanish, were sent to the city of 
Mexico. 

It will he recollected that Texas, which originally 
formed one of the confederacies of Mexico, revolted, 
became a separate independency, and established a re- 
public ; its independence was recognized by other sov- 
ereignties, and it was annexed to the United States. 

In 1839, when it was a republic, and prior to its ad- 
mission as a state into the Union of the United States, 
through the influence of an agent of the American 
Bible Society, a society was formed at Houston, the 
capital. Several members of Congress and other dis- 
tinguished individuals participated in the exercises, 
and the vice-president of the republic, Hon. David G-. 
Burnett, was chosen president of the society. The 
agent, having taken with him a large stock of Bibles, 
sold them to the society, and measures were adopted 
for organizing auxiliaries and distributing the Scrip- 
tures. 

Texas being no longer a foreigner or stranger, but a 
fellow-citizen, we shall not be expected, of course, to 
say any more in regard to Bible operations in her bor- 
ders under this chapter, unless it be to remark, that at 
the anniversary of the Texas Bible Society the follow- 
ing admirable resolutions were passed : 

^^ Resolved, That the principles and influence of the 
Bible tend to the perfection and permanency of all 
good governments. 

'^Resolved, That we view the Bible as a book proper 
to be placed in the hands of youth, and recommend its 
adoption in our schools." 



174 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



The latter resolution was offered by a member of 
Congress, and advocated in an able and eloquent 
manner. 

In 1841, a grant of Spanish Bibles was made to an 
American merchant at Mazatlan, in Mexico, for sale 
and distribution. 

The year immediately succeeding, on the request 
of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, were 
granted five hundred and fifty copies of the Spanish 
Scriptures. 

Dr. Thomson, the agent of the British and Foreign 
Bible Society, visited Yucatan in 1844, and his repre- 
sentations of the wants of the inhabitants and the 
great demand for the Scriptures induced the board to 
send him one thousand Spanish Testaments for dis- 
»tribution in that peninsula. 

In 1845, the board sent to William H. Brown, Esq., 
of Tobasco, Mexico, one hundred copies of Spanish 
Scriptures for distribution in that region. 

During the war which has recently closed by a 
treaty between the United States and Mexico, by 
which a part of the Mexican territory was ceded to 
the United States, our army, rendezvousing at various 
stations, received a supply of Bibles and Testaments 
before their departure, and since, large quantities have 
been sent to New Orleans, Galveston, San Antonia, 
and Vera Cruz, to supply those who had not previously 
been provided for. 

The board felt called upon to send the Bible to the 
inhabitants of that ill-fated country in greater num- 
bers than it had previously done. Its unhappy and 
distracted state was well calculated to awaken Chris- 
tian sympathy; and if, in defense of the national 
honor and national rights, it was deemed necessary to 
send the sword of death, it was equally in accordance 
with the genius of Christianity to send the Sword of 



BIBLE IN MEXICO, ETC. 



175 



the Spirit, which, like the spear of Telephiis, carries a 
bahxL upon its point to heal the wound it inflicts. 

A prudent and well-qualified agent, in the person 
of Rev. Mr. Norris, who had returned from a long mis- 
sionary residence in South America, was commissioned 
to enter upon the work of distributing the Word of 
God in that country. 

He started for the field of his operations in the sum- 
mer of 1848, taking with him four thousand Bibles and 
Testaments in the English, Spanish, French, and Ger- 
man languages. 

These Bibles were designed for the supply of our 
soldiery, as well as Mexicans and foreigners. 

Many an interesting incident might be gathered 
from the distribution of the Bible among the soldiers 
at the various camps prior to their departure for the 
scenes of battle. 

One of these fell under the notice of the writer. He 
had requested a grant of two thousand Bibles for the 
Ohio volunteers, stationed at Camp Washington, on 
the lawn of Colonel Biddle, near Cincinnati. The 
grant was made through the Young Men's Bible So- 
ciety of Cincinnati, one of the most efficient auxilia- 
ries connected with the parent institution. A day 
was fixed upon by the commandant of the division. 
Colonel Curtis, and the committee appointed by the 
society repaired to the camp with the Scriptures. The 
soldiers were drawn up by companies, and as they 
marched in solemn order by the station of the com- 
mittee, each one received a copy, to be deposited in 
his knapsack, and be the companion of his weary way. 
The tear trembled in the eye of many a by-stander, 
and many a soldier's heart felt the influence of the 
touching scene. Many sons of Ohio received Bibles 
on that day who now are in eternity. Their bones 
lie bleaching on the mountains and plains of Mexico. 



170 AMERICAN BIBLE SO-GIETY. 

They met the melancholy fate of " those who take the 
sword." 

As faithfully descriptive of the condition and pros- 
pects of Mexico, we shall close this article hy copying 
the letter of Rev. Mr. Norris in relation to his agency 
in that country. 

In his communication to the hoard, he says, "I 
need not remind you that Roman Catholicism is the 
established religion of Mexico — Catholicism unmodi- 
fied by the Reformation. Protestant worship is not 
tolerated except in private houses, and hy less than 
twelve persons ; if more than that number are present, 
they are liable to punishment. Except in the city of 
Mexico, where the English have a cemetery, the priv- 
ilege of sepulture is denied to Protestants, and their 
dead must be buried in some obscure place, under 
cover of darkness, or a grave procured by bribing the 
priests. 

"The great number of churches presents a striking 
object to travelers. Every village of a dozen huts has 
one or more of them ; every hacienda has its chapel 
surmounted by a white steeple. In some locations 
there seems to be a great excess of sacred edifices, as 
in the vicinity of Puebla. From the Pyramid of Cho- 
lula, once occupied as an idol temple, now the site of 
a beautiful church, upward of fifty churches may be 
counted, some of them very large, while the popula- 
tion will not exceed a very few thousands. In some 
parts of this district the sacred edifices outnumber 
the huts of the inhabitants. 

"The religious establishments of the proud and rich 
city of Puebla are numerous and very wealthy. In 
the city of Mexico the churches and religious houses, 
many of them very spacious, and covering nearly an 
entire square, are said to own in fee one half of all 
the real estate in the city, in addition to which they 



Ji I B L E I N M E X I C O, E T C IJJ 

hold what is equivalent to perpetual mortgages on one 
half of the residue, thus controlling three fourths of 
the real property in the capital. 

" The clergy are very numerous in all the cities. 
With few exceptions, they are reputed to he ignorant, 
indolent, and exceedingly loose in their morals. Con- 
cuhinage and its kindred vices are notoriously com- 
mon among them. Not a few of them are infidels. 
They still exert consider ahle political power, while 
their moral and social influence over the lower class, 
and the females of all classes, is almost unlimited, 
and is ahused for purposes and to an extent well- 
nigh incredihle. The schools, colleges, and nearly 
every other institution in the country feel the hlight- 
ing influence of their interference. 

"Like priests, like people as to intelligence and 
morality. A large proportion of the people in the 
cities and more populous villages are taught to read 
and write, but make little use of their acquirements 
after they leave school. Few of them are able to read 
fluently. The education of the females is very super- 
ficial. Every man professes himself a Catholic, and 
is very devout and religious in his way ; in some re- 
spects they are worthy of imitation by enlightened 
Christians. A fair proportion of men attend the serv- 
ices of the Church. 

" In morals the mass of the people are exceedingly 
depraved. ' The Leperos,' said an intelligent Mexi- 
can, ' are all thieves — are liars ; they are animals — 
beasts ; they have neither religion nor morality.' 
* Three fourths of them,' said a priest, * live together 
without marriage.' 

"The seventh commandment is universally violated 
among them, both in spirit and letter, and such viola- 
tions as must not be named here. The shocking crime 
of incest is common. The Leperos constitute an over- 

M 



178 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

whelming majority in the cities, particularly the cap- 
ital, and with the peones, or slaves, and Indians, who 
are in no respect their superiors, they constitute at 
least five sevenths of the population of the country. 
The published accounts of robberies fall far below the 
truth. On the great roads, nearly every man is a rob- 
ber. The soldiers rob. The men who are employed 
to escort the mule-trains, loaded with merchandise, 
are robbers. Mechanics and shop-keepers in the towns 
leave their homes and business for a few days to fol- 
low the more lucrative business of highwaymen, an 
employment not generally considered disreputable. 
Magistrates are known to be accomplices, and protect 
rather than punish their associates. The drivers of 
the public stages, keepers of taverns and hotels, are 
leagued with the robbers, and Santa Anna himself, 
the Astor of Mexico, was believed to have been en- 
gaged in the nefarious business. There is a great deal 
of intemperance among the common people, and gam- 
bling is common among all, from the highest to the 
lowest, not excepting the clergy and great officers of 
state. The biblical wants of such a people must be 
great and pressing. In the light of God's law they 
are excessively wicked. Their religion helps to make 
and keep them wicked. The mass of the people are 
deplorably wicked, even for Homan Catholics, and 
their spiritual masters (teachers they have none) love 
to have it so. Hence the Word of God is a prohibited 
book. To read their own edition of Padre Scio's Bi- 
ble, with the Apocrypha and notes, edited by a priest, 
and issued under the approbation of an archbishop, a 
license must first be obtained. To prevent his people 
from being injured by reading the Word of God, the 
Bishop of Mexico bought and burned a box of Bibles 
sent out by the British and Foreign Bible Society ; yet 
a tr3atise, too grossly licentious and corrupting' in its 



BIBLE IN MEXICO. ETC. 



179 



tendency to be endured any where else than in Mex- 
ico, was published for general use as a religious help 
to conscience. It was hoped that the Mexican war 
would open the way for Christian enterprise in that 
country. There was a time when toleration for Prot- 
estantism might have been had for asking — could not 
have been refused ; but the favorable moment was 
allowed to pass, and we have not gained even the priv- 
ilege of sepulture. By the war, Protestantism has 
gained nothing but access to the ceded territory. The 
war has been a great moral evil to Mexico. There 
are, however, some encouraging features in the pres- 
ent aspect of affairs. A political party now exists, 
whose avowed object is to limit the power of the 
priests, confine them to their proper duties, break dowil 
the overgroAvn religious establishments of the coun- 
try, and devote their great wealth to the cause of pop- 
ular education. This party has no partiality for Prot- 
estantism, yet they are desirous of having the Scrip- 
tures circulated, as a means of opening the eyes of the 
people to the abuses of the Church. Bibles and Test- 
aments have been put by your agents into the hands 
of hundreds of families in Vera Cruz, Jalapa, Perote, 
Puebla, and the city of Mexico." 

The above communication discloses facts sufficient 
to make it obvious to the most superficial observer that 
nothing but the universal circulation and reading of 
the Bible can elevate this priest-ridden land. There 
is nothing but the want of Bible instruction to prevent 
Mexico from being as free, intelligent, virtuous, and 
happy as our own country. It is the Bible that makes 
us differ. It is not the native superiority of the Anglo- 
Saxon over that of the Castilian — it is not that our 
physical resources are greater, that w^e have brighter 
skies, purer air, broader and more fertile plains, might- 
ier rivers, or richer mines — no ! it is because we have 



j^gQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

for our instruction and guide the Oracles of God, and 
they have nothing but the oracles of a corrupt, design- 
ing priesthood, who have usurped the place of God. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



The Board of Managers having learned, in 1818, 
that there was a prospect of introducing the Scriptures 
into those parts of South America where the Spanish 
language is spoken, a set of stereotype plates for the 
New Testament in that language was immediately 
procured, and, as soon as copies could be printed, they 
were sent to that country. 

A grant of five hundred Testaments was made in 
1820, for the use of the primary schools in the munici- 
pality of Buenos Ayres. Other grants were made 
during the same year to different parts of the country, 
and an extensive correspondence was opened for the 
purpose of discovering favorable localities for the intro- 
duction and circulation of the Scriptures. 

Liberal donations of Spanish Scriptures were early 
made by the British and Foreign Bible Society to the 
American Bible Society, by which it was enabled to 
prosecute, with more vigor than it otherwise could have 
done, the work of distribution. 

The changes which had taken place in the Spanish 
colonies of America favorable to the introduction of 
the Bible, induced the society to send a further supply 
to different parts of that country, and a correspondence 
was opened in relation to the printing of the New Test- 
ament in Spanish, in the version of Father Scio. 

In 1822, five hundred copies of the Scriptures were 
sent to different parts of the country. 



BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. ][ 3 j^ 

The year following arrangements were made for the 
printing of Padre Scio's version of the Bible, and plates 
were contracted for. 

The demand for the Scriptures continued to increase 
in all parts of the country, persons of rank in Church 
and State became interested in their perusal, and mul- 
titudes were seen with avidity to purchase and read 
the Word of God. 

During the year, two thousand five hundred copies 
were sent through different channels to all parts of the 
country. 

It will, perhaps, be proper to state here, that the Bi- 
bles sent out Avere a version approved of by the Roman 
Catholics, and to those who may not have been ac- 
quainted with that fact, this statement will relieve their 
surprise in regard to the favor with which they were 
received by the inhabitants of a papal country. Not- 
withstanding the errors found in the Vulgate, from 
which the versions of the Catholics are made, it con- 
tains essential truth enough to '' make wise unto sal- 
vation." It will be recollected that it was from the 
Vulgate Luther's mind received its enlightenment in 
his monastic cell at Erfurt, and through it he was led 
to renounce the errors of Romanism, and embrace the 
Gospel doctrine of " salvation by faith." 

In 1825, one thousand eight hundred and ninety- 
five copies o£ the Bible were sent to Patagonia, in the 
provinces on both sides of the Parana, to Monte Video, 
Bahia, the Brazils, Valparaiso, Chili, across the Andes 
into Mendoza, and other parts of the country. The 
rays of moral twilight which these Bibles shed abroad 
in that hitherto Bibleless land, served to show the ex- 
tent of the darkness which reigned there, and excited 
a deeper interest in the hearts of the friends of the 
cause to increase these rays and extend them still 
further, until the whole land should be illumined by 
the light of the Gospel. 



182 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

During the year 1826, intelligence was received of 
the formation of a national Bihle society at Bogota 
for the Republic of Colombia; and the board, as a 
pledge of the interest they took in this society, and 
their good feelings toward it, sent to their depository 
a donation of eight hundred Spanish Bibles. 

They also received intelligence of the establishment 
of a Bible society in the city of Caraccas, and the 
agent of the American institution placed at its dis- 
posal the Bibles which had been intrusted to his care. 

From Mr. John C. Brigham, who is now, and has 
for many years been, the efficient and popular corre- 
sponding secretary of the American Bible Society, but 
who at that time was the agent of the American Board 
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, the board re- 
ceived frequent and interesting communications in 
regard to the condition and wants of South America, 
and also in regard to the circulation of the Scriptures 
in that country. He had visited the republics of 
Buenos Ayres, Chili, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico, and 
had in each distributed the Bibles committed to his 
care. The anxiety to receive the Bible in these re- 
publics was so great, that instead of the hundreds 
which he disposed of, he could with the same ease, he 
remarks, have sold thousands. 

Grants of Spanish Scriptures were made during the 
year to various agents in that country, and many 
copies were purchased by merchants and others, who, 
while they served their own individual interests, at 
the same time promoted the objects of the society. 
As an article of traffic, those who engaged in it re- 
alized handsome profits. Bibles that were purchased 
at the Depository for a dollar and a half, were sold by 
them as high as eight dollars, so great was the de- 
mand. 

In 1828, Bibles were forwarded to Colombia. A 



BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. ][ g 3 

gentleman who traded up the Magdalena River took 
with him four boxes of the Scriptures for sale and dis- 
tribution in the vicinity of Bogota. 

Small quantities were also sent to a gentleman 
from New York residing at Maracaibo. A part of 
these were sold. Another portion was sent to that 
place in a vessel which was wrecked on the coast of 
Colombia, but did not reach the person to whom sent. 
The board received intelligence, however, of their ar- 
rival at Maracaibo. They were taken thither by In- 
dians who visited the wreck, and plundered it of the 
Bibles, and sold them at a very high price to the citi- 
zens. Four hundred and forty-five Bibles were sent 
to Mr. Parvin and a correspondent at Buenos Ayres. 
Others were intrusted to a gentleman who intended 
to visit the west coast of South America and the 
Philippine Islands. 

During the following year, a grant of Dutch Bibles, 
on the request of one of the missionaries of the United 
Brethren Church, was made for distribution in Su- 
rinam and Paramaribo. 

Almost every portion of this country was involved 
in war during the year, and Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, 
Guatemala were in a state of continued revolutionary 
excitement. This, together with the exclusion by the 
British and Foreign and the American Bible Societies 
of the apocryphal books from the Spanish Bible, 
rendered the circulation thereof in that country much 
more limited than in former years. An ecclesiastical 
decree was issued, prohibiting the sale or use of any 
Bible unless accompanied by the Catholic notes. In 
the preamble of this decree, it was stated that " Bible 
societies are endeavoring to propagate the lamentable 
sentiments of Protestant sects, namely, that the only 
rule of faith is the Bible, interpreted by each one ac- 
cording to his own judgment, a principle directly op- 



Xg4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

posed to that laid down by the holy Council of Trent, 
by which it was determined that the living voice of 
the Church shall settle the meaning of the Scriptures." 

A box of Testaments was sent this year to Val* 
par also. 

The succeeding year but little was accomplished. 
The objections to the Bible without the uncanonical 
books still existed. A small quantity of Bibles and 
Testaments was sent to Carthagena. 

In 1831, the unhappy political dissensions which 
existed prevented the circulation of the Scriptures, 
and during the year but oile hundred Spanish Testa- 
ments were forwarded to Buenos Ayres. 

In 1833, to an officer in the United States Navy, on 
the west coast of South America, for distribution at 
the places where he touched, were granted one hund- 
red and fifty Spanish Bibles. 

With a view of effecting an increased interest in 
the Bible cause, an agent was sent out the following 
year by the board. He took with him a good supply 
of Spanish and English Bibles and Testaments, and 
was instructed to visit the principal towns in Chili, 
Peru, Equador, New G-renada, and Western Mexico. 
The agent was at liberty to furnish the New Testa- 
ment gratuitously to all schools that would agree to 
use it as a reading book. 

A communication was received from the agent 
which contained the gratifying intelligence that, in 
the various towns which he visited, the people gener- 
ally, and some of the priesthood, were favorable to his 
benevolent mission. One clergyman, a member of the 
Senate, expressed his full conviction that the Bible 
should have an unrestricted circulation. The bishop 
of the diocese, however, thought differently, and, sum- 
moning the agent before him, required him to desist 
from further distributions. The consequence was, that 



BIBLE IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



185 



the Bibles which he had deposited for sale had to be 
taken back to save them from the flames. His dis- 
tributions in the Republic of Chili amounted to about 
twelve hundred copies. He next visited Peru, and 
sold about four hundred copies in Lima and other 
places. 

In 1838, a number of Spanish Gospels were sent to 
the Hon. Joaquin Mosquera, of New Grenada, for the 
use of the primary schools at Bogota. A donation of 
fifty Bibles and one hundred Testaments was sent to 
the Rev. Mr. Torrey, at St. Catharine's, Brazil, and 
the same number, in various languages, to the Mis- 
sionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
for distribution by their missionaries at Rio Janeiro. 

The Rev. Mr. Spaulding, in a communication to 
the board, states that '' the sales of Bibles in Portu- 
guese and Latin had increased in various ways. Some 
circumstances have occurred which have astonished 
us. Directors and teachers of schools had thronged 
the house, and upward of sixty notes had been sent 
requesting Portuguese and French Scriptures." 

The following year, to Messrs. Spaulding and Kid- 
der, Methodist Episcopal missionaries in Brazil, were 
sent one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five Bi- 
bles and Testaments, in Portuguese, German, and 
French. On the part of the people there was a gen- 
eral desire to obtain the Scriptures, notwithstanding 
the opposition of the priesthood. These missionaries 
made an eloquent appeal to the board for a supply of 
an empire embracing a population of five millions. 
They represented infidelity as having preoccupied the 
ground in the dissemination of infidel publications. 
Since the country had gained its independence from 
Spain, domestic feuds had arisen, in which the Catho- 
lic priesthood were particularly conspicuous, manifest- 
ing, as from time immemorial, their hatred of and op- 



l^Q AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY 

position to free institutions. As the most successful 
way of preventing the prevalence of these institutions, 
they invariably prohibit the circulation of the Bible. 

In 1840, the missionaries report that the supplies sent 
them had been put into circulation, and the cause was 
prospering in Brazil. 

During the year 1844, to the Uev. Mr. Norris, a Meth- 
odist Episcopal clergyman at Buenos Ayres, was sent 
a supply of Bibles, in Spanish, Danish, and Italian. 

To Rio Grande, in Brazil, was sent a small supply 
of Portuguese and Spanish Bibles, and to a lady at 
the same place, several Portuguese Testaments for dis- 
tribution. 

To an English friend at Nicaragua, Honduras, were 
sent two hundred and fifty Spanish Scriptures. 

To Rio Grande, Buenos Ayres, and Monte Video, 
grants of Spanish Bibles were made to a limited ex- 
tent the following year. 

In 1848, a grant of three hundred and twenty-two 
copies of the Spanish Scriptures was made to the For- 
eign Evangelical Society for the use of their mission- 
ary at Valparaiso, and the same year to the American 
consul at Santa Martha was sent a supply of Span- 
ish Scriptures for distribution. 

This, we believe, embraces all that can be said sta- 
tistically in relation to the operations of the American 
Bible Society in South America. Much has been done 
by other institutions, especially the British and For- 
eign Bible Society, in scattering abroad over that ex- 
tensive and interesting field the good seed, much of 
which has already been productive, and we most ar- 
dently hope that the day is not far distant when the 
sister Republics of that country shall be elevated to 
the enjoyment of all the blessings of that rational and 
Christian liberty which we, as a nation, so largely 
enjoy. 



BIBLE IN FRANCE. I87 



CHAPTER XX. 



BIBLE IN FHANCE. 



France is now a republic, and, though nominally 
a papal country, the Word of God has an unrestricted 
circulation. The time was when one of her largest 
cities was searched for a copy of the Bible, that it 
might be tied to the tail of an ass, and thus dragged in 
derision through its streets ; but that day has passed. 
That book is now respected, and taken to the council- 
chamber of many of her most distinguished statesmen. 

Among the first donations received by the American 
Bible Society was a complete set of stereotype plates 
for the Bible, in the French language, from the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society, in 1818. As a foreign 
field, the society bestowed its earliest attention in pro- 
viding for that country the Word of Life. 

The managers of the society, having been made 
acquainted with the labors of the Rev. Frederic Leo, 
of Paris, by whose extraordinary exertions the print- 
ing of two fine stereotype editions of the New Testa- 
ment, in French, was accomplished, one according to 
the translation of the Rev. Mr. Osterwald, and the oth- 
er according to the translation of Le Maistre de Sacy, 
judged it proper to assist him in a work which he was 
prosecuting with great personal toil and expense. 

A letter from the Secretary of Foreign Correspond- 
ence, Rev. Dr. Mason, communicating to the above- 
named gentleman the intelligence that the board had 
made him a donation of five hundred dollars to assist 
him in the printing and distribution of the Scriptures, 
remarks : 



]^gg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" I hope, my dear sir, that you will- see in this act 
of the American Bible Society a proof that your many 
and arduous labors in the good work of spreading 
abroad the Word of Life are not forgotten nor disre- 
garded on this side of the Atlantic, and that you will 
be encouraged to persevere in your noble undertaking, 
finding your best recompense in the answer of a good 
conscience toward God and a benevolent spirit toward 
man." 

The work of Bible distribution was greatly accel- 
erated by the formation of the Protestant Bible So- 
ciety of Paris, founded in 1818. 

In 1830, owing to some political events which 
transpired in France, the field of operations was ren- 
dered more inviting, and increased facilities were af- 
forded for the circulation of the Scriptures. 

A benevolent gentleman in one of our cities, familiar 
with the condition and wants of France, offered to 
furnish one thousand dollars to aid the American Bi- 
ble Society in circulating the Scriptures in that coun- 
try, on condition that nine thousand dollars more 
should be made up from other sources. 

During the year 1821, it was estimated that there 
were put in circulation in that kingdom one hundred 
and fifty thousand copies of the Bible. This was ac- 
complished principally through the Protestant Bible 
Society. The circulation was mostly confined to the 
Protestants, of which there are three millions in that 
country. 

The board, in 1823, made a grant of two thousand 
dollars to the Protestant Bible Society, to aid it in cir- 
culating the Scriptures. 

The grounds on which the grant was made may be 
learned by the following extracts from the Committee 
of the French and Foreign Bible Society, formed 1833 : 
" Many motives have induced us to give you official 



BIBLE IN FRANCE. ' "[ g 9 

information of our existence. Besides those bonds of 
mutual good will which ought to unite both institu- 
tions, born of the same faith and for the same end, it 
has appeared to us that Providence will establish par- 
ticular ones between your society and ours. 

'' The name of France awakens in America many 
generous sentiments. It is associated with the re- 
membrance of the days when God raised you to the 
rank of an independent nation. It was then that 
France aided you in gaining that independence, the 
most precious good (after the possession of the Gospel 
of salvation) which a nation can enjoy, and which 
has assigned to 3^our country so honorable a rank 
among the families of the people — you have never for- 
gotten it. 

" Therefore France to you is dear. We are not 
ignorant how much you interest yourselves in her 
happiness, and w^e are assured that it is with particu- 
lar affection that the Christians of America ask of the 
Lord that his light may shine upon us, and that his 
salvation may be known from one end of France to 
the other. 

" It is true that if we compare the immensity of this 
task with our present resources, we find no proportion 
between them. But we have learned, even in the 
book which we labor to distribute, that our God places 
his glory in using weak things to confound the strong. 

" The experience which our elder sisters have had 
of his blessing encourages us. We believe that there 
are none of them who have not had, like ourselves, to 
recollect that the period is still recent when the Bible 
ceased to be an importation in America and became 
indigenous there, and that we have lived long enough 
to see the rapid developments of your society, which 
can already extend its solicitudes to the remotest na- 
tions. 



l^Q AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" The necessities around us are immense. The Ro- 
man Catholic population, in part detached from the 
pope, begins to feel its religious wants. 

" Brethren of America, we calculate upon your as- 
sistance, and we hope to see the day when we can in 
our turn offer a hand to some new-born society, and, 
like you, extend our labors beyond the limits of our 
own country." 

In 1824, the board granted to this society six thou- 
sand dollars, five hundred dollars of which were for the 
circulation of the German Scriptures among emigrants 
passing through France to America. 

In 1825, the Protestant Bible Society of Paris num- 
bered seventy-five auxiliaries. 

In answer to a letter received from the secretary of 
the Lyons Bible Society, representing the wants of 
the two hundred thousand inhabitants of that city and 
the surrounding country, nearly all of whom were 
Roman Catholics, the board made a remittance of five 
hundred dollars, to enable them to purchase Bibles 
and Testaments from the Depository of the French and 
Foreign Bible Society in Paris. 

During the year 1835, application was made to the 
board from the French and Foreign Bible Society for 
aid to enable it to circulate the Spanish Scriptures, 
and a grant was made to that society of two thousand 
and seventy dollars. 

In 1837, to the above society were granted, on re- 
quest, one thousand dollars, to enable it to procure a 
set of stereotype plates for a pica French Testament 
for aged persons. 

In addition to this grant, the sum of one thousand 
more was forwarded, on the recommendation of the 
Rev. Robert Baird, to aid in circulating the Scriptures 
in France and Spain. 

A letter from the secretary of this society the fol- 



BIBLE IN FRANCE. 



191 



lowing year is of the most encouraging character, and 
gives a most gratifying account of the circulation of 
the Scriptures among the sailors and soldiers. It 
states that the maritime officers and military com- 
manders of many cities, although Roman Catholics, 
had not opposed them, as was anticipated, hut had in 
many instances granted them assistance. 

It was estimated that there were circulated in the 
different departm-ents of France, during the year 1840, 
two hundred thousand copies of the Scriptures. 

The following year, to the Rev. Mr. Sawtelle, seven 
hundred Bibles and Testaments were granted for dis- 
tribution in Havre ; and to the Foreign Evangelical 
Society, to aid in the distribution of Bibles, under the 
direction of the Rev. Robert Baird, five hundred dol-^ 
lars were granted. In reply to this donation, the 
above-named gentleman remarks : ''I am happy to say 
that your grant is at this moment furnishing the Scrip- 
tures to many people, by means of our colporteurs. An 
American- Swiss committee employs this winter thirty 
colporteurs." 

Up to this period the societies in France had re- 
ceived, besides grants of money from the British and 
Foreign Bible Society, upward of a million and a half 
of Bibles and Testaments. The Depository of this so- 
ciety in Paris, under the direction of the agent, M. 
Pressense, issued in 1842 one hundred and forty-six 
thousand Bibles and Testaments, ninety-five thousand 
of which were distributed by colporteurs. 

To the Foreign Evangelical Society, for circulating 
the Scriptures in France, was remitted the sum of 
seven hundred dollars. 

Soon after this grant, another was made of a thou- 
sand dollars to the French and Foreign Bible Society. 

A very gratifying letter was received from Count de 
la Borde, one of the secretaries of the society, ac- 



192 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

knowledging with gratitude the receipt of the dona- 
tion. 

In this letter the pleasing intelligence is communi- 
cated that the circulation of the Bible is attended with 
the most blessed results. In the Catholic parishes of 
western France a deep and abiding interest has been 
awakened among the people, and a general desire to 
^' search the Scriptures" for the foundation of their 
faith has led many to abandon the soulless system of 
Romanism, and to ask for pastors who would feed 
them with the '' sincere milk of the Word." 

The Archbishop of Toulouse, startled by the en- 
croachments of Bible truth upon the dominions of 
papacy, revived against the Protestants the false ac- 
cusation that they were spreading editions of the 
Bible in which the text was falsified. One of the 
members of the American-Swiss Committee sent the 
archbishop a challenge to prove what he had assert- 
ed, and soon after published a pamphlet, known by 
the title of '' Reply to the Circular of the Archbishop 
of Toulouse." This reply induced many inquiries, 
and the result was, several priests left the Church of 
Rome, two of whom published pamphlets, entitled, 
'' Farewell to jRom^," and " The Fope^'' which created 
a salutary sensation. Thus has the Bible always tri- 
umphed when attacked either by papacy or infidelity. 
Priests, monks, and friars were converted by simply 
reading the Bible, and became the most zealous col- 
porteurs of the sacred treasure. 

To further encourage the labors of the Foreign Evan- 
gelical Society, a grant of ^nq hundred dollars was 
made. In 1847, on the request of Dr. Baird, the board 
granted five hundred dollars to the Foreign Evangel- 
ical Society toward printing and circulating the Scrip- 
tures in Switzerland and southern France. 

In two difierent payments to the French and For- 



BIBLE IN FRANCE. ]^ 9 3 

eign Bible Society, were granted, during the year, three 
thousand dollars. 

The secretary, Count de la Borde, in his communi- 
cation, speaks of the determined and persevering op- 
position of the papal priesthood since the accession of 
the new pope. It will be recollected that this same 
Pius IX,, by what was in this country termed his lib- 
eral policy, had obtained for himself the name of a re- 
former, as though a church infallibly identified with 
superstition and error could be reformed. While in 
this country the trumpet of his fame was sounding as 
a prince of liberal views, his edicts against the rights 
of conscience were grinding to the dust the sincere in- 
qukers after truth in his own dominions. No thanks 
to Pope Pius are due, to say the least of it, from Dem^ 
ocratic Republicans. That the policy which gave 
him such favor in the eyes of some, who were ignorant 
of the motives which actuated him, should be regard- 
ed as a matter of choice, is not remarkable. Subse- 
quent events in his ill-fated history must certainly 
have demonstrated to the most obtuse intellect the 
fact that necessity, stern and irrevocable, was the effi- 
cient cause of such action. Unacquainted with the 
laAvs of progress, or unwilling to yield to their righteous 
demands, he was obliged to vacate the fabled chair 
of St. Peter, doff the triple crown, and, disguised as a 
servant, flee from the seat of his power and take ref- 
uge in another state. 

The desire to read the Scriptures had been awaken- 
ed in France, and it was not in the power of the then 
reigning pontiff or his hireling priesthood to arrest the 
progress of that spirit of inquiry. The board remitted 
five hundred dollars to the Evangelical Society, and 
responded to an appeal from the French and Foreign 
Bible Society by sending two thousand dollars to aid 
it in the glorious work. 

N 



3^94 AMERICAN BIBLE SOC/ETY. 

Since the late revolution, a letter from one of the 
secretaries contains the following remarks : 

" At present our treasury is empty, and in debt twelve 
thousand francs. Our committee, in addition thereto, 
has been obliged to make large engagements, amount- 
ing to more than thirty thousand francs, in order to re- 
new our stereotype plates, which were worn out ; and, 
as our depository of books is nearly empty, we foresee 
a large increase of expenses for the purchase of paper 
and necessary press-work. Certainly such a situation, 
if made known to the world, would draw down upon 
us its disapprobation, and we should be accused of un- 
pardonable imprudence ; but Christians, who know 
the particular circumstances of the religious state of 
France, far from blaming us, will grant us all their 
sympathy." 

Truly a crisis full of the deepest interest had come 
— at a time, too, when the political circumstances of 
the country afforded the widest liberty for the circula- 
tion of the Scriptures among a population disturbed 
and agitated like the waves of the sea in a storm. 
There was no time to be lost ; the liberty gained could 
only be secured by the infusion into the nation of a 
Bible morality, and France must have the Bible. The 
Eev. Mr. Bridel was sent as a delegate to the Ameri- 
can Bible Society. His representation of the condi- 
tion and wants of that country excited an interest in 
behalf of the Bible cause in France which was vastly 
greater than any that previously existed. At the an- 
niversary meeting, it was resolved to contribute ten 
thousand dollars during the year for the support of 
this cause. 

We shall close this chapter by the narration of an 
interesting incident connected with the circulation of 
the Bible in France. 

The proprietor of the Hotel Gihhon, at Lausanne, 



BIBLE IN SPAIN, ETC. I95 

has charge of a depot of Bibles in this noted house. 
In this hotel, bearing the name and built on the very 
ground so often paced by one who, through life, hated 
the Gospel, and did all he could to injure its blessed 
cause, there is a depository of Bibles. The host and 
hostess have disposed of upward of four thousand cop- 
ies of the sacred Volume. 

It was once said by Voltaire that the time would 
arrive when the Bible would be regarded only in the 
light of an old curiosity. The very room in which he 
penned this sentiment is now piled to the ceiling with 
that rare old Book. 



CHAPTER XXI. 

BIBLE IN SPAIN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, AND AUSTRIA. 

From the Annual Reports of the American Bible 
Society, as well as those of the British and Foreign, 
together with other sources of information which we 
have consulted in relation to the introduction and cir- 
culation of the Scriptures in this land of old renown" 
— the favored country of the " olive and the vine" — 
the earliest information we can gather is from the an- 
nual report of the above-named society for 1826. 

Inquiry was made during that year in regard to the 
dissemination of the Word of Life in that country, but 
such was its condition that it was deemed proper not 
to make any special efforts in relation thereto. 

During the first year of the American Bible Society's 
existence, when the board were without funds, and 
dependent upon the benevolence of friends for a place 
wherein to hold their meetings, the subject of publish- 
ing the Spanish New Testament was brought before 

N 



X96 AMERICAN BIBLE SOClJi:il. 

them by the donation of certain documents in relation 
thereto from the New York Missionary Society, which 
they had collected with a view of undertaking said 
work. 

The subject was favorably entertained by the board, 
and nothing but sheer inability on their part, arising 
from want of means to prosecute the work, deterred 
them from the undertaking at that early day. 

In 1828, a few copies of the Spanish Scriptures were 
introduced through various media. 

Nothing more was accomplished until 1832, when 
small distributions were effected, mostly through na- 
tives from Spain residing in England. 

In 1835, the secretary of the French and Foreign 
Bible Society requested a copy of each of the editions 
of Spanish Scriptures published by the American Bible 
Society, and also addressed a question to the board in 
regard to the opinion entertained by well-informed 
Spaniards of the style and literary merit of the version, 
with a view of introducing it into Spain, which, from 
its proximity to France, rendered it more properly the 
duty of their society to labor for its introduction into 
that country. 

During the same year, the British and Foreign Bible 
Society sent an agent to Spain, in the person of Mr. 
Borrow, whose book, entitled " Bible in Spain," has 
been extensively circulated, and read by thousands 
with unusual interest. The travels of the above- 
named gentleman were very extensive, and his de- 
scription of the condition of the country — its religion, 
manners, and customs — interesting and truthful. 

Spain is Roman Catholic throughout, though, in the 
language of Mr. Borrow, " she is not blindly wedded 
to the pope." Though she has done more than any 
other papal country to enforce the bloody edicts of the 
Church in the establishment of the Inquisition, which 



BIBLE IN SPAIN, ETC. I97 

for two centuries was gorged with the Wood of thou- 
sands — a vast butcher-house — yet this was not so 
much for the love of Rome as for the title given her of 
the Vicar of Jesus. When she could no longer wield 
the sword with success against the Lutherans, and her 
Inquisition was blown to atoms, so that she was oblig- 
ed to change her profession as the butcher, she became 
the banker of Rome. As pride must always have a 
fall, this being the predominant feature of her charac- 
ter, so was she destined to still further changes. 

"Wars devastated the country, poverty ensued, the 
pope clamored for his "" Peter pence, ^^ and complained 
bitterly of the treatment he received in Spain. In his 
pastoral letter, he says, " My cathedrals are let down, 
my priests are insulted, and the revenues of my bishops 
are curtailed." 

The pious lamentations and tears of Gregory XVI. 
had little effect in moving the hearts of the bull-fight- 
ing members of his Church. Mr. Borrow found among 
the peasantry of Spain a general willingness to read 
the Bible, 'and also a disposition to assist him in its 
circulation. 

While in Madrid he translated and printed the 
Gospel in the Gipsy language, which was extensively 
circulated, and for which, together with the sale of 
the Spanish Scriptures, he was arrested by the priest- 
hood of Rome, and thrust into prison. While on his 
way to prison, in passing the Carcel de la Corte, or 
Prison of the Court, he remarks, " I remembered that 
this was the place where the Inquisition of Spain was 
in the habit of holding its solemn Autos da Fe, and I 
cast my eye to the balcony of the City Hall, where 
the last of the Austrian line in Spain sat, and, after 
some thirty heretics of both sexes had been burned by 
fours and fives, wiped his face, perspiring with heat 
and black with smoke, and calmly inquired, ' No hay 



;[98 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

mas T for which exemplary proof of patience he was 
much applauded hy his priests and confessors, who 
suhsequently poisoned him. And here am I, who 
have done more to wound popery than all the poor 
Christian martyrs that ever suffered in this accursed 
square, merely sent to prison, from which I am sure to 
he liberated in a few days with credit and applause. 
Pope of Rome ! I believe you to he as malicious as 
ever, hut you are sadly deficient in power. You are 
become paralytic, Batuschca, and your club has degen- 
erated to a crutch !" 

All this turned out for the furtherance of the Gos- 
pel, the very thing he desired ; for, when he wished 
to get access to its inmates on a former occasion, it 
was denied him. The word of salvation came to those 
who otherwise, as in the case of the Philippian jailer, 
never would have received its joyful intelligence. 

In 1838, a civil war raged with unusual violence 
in Spain, but the indications of Providence seemed to 
encourage the hope that something could be done for 
the diffusion of the Scriptures in that country. The 
board received a communication from a Protestant 
merchant residing there, requesting a grant of Spanish 
Scriptures. He says, " There is not the least shade 
of doubt in my mind that Divine Providence is now 
opening the way for the dissipation of the horrible 
abuses and crimes which, under the holy name of re- 
ligion, have so long stained this most unhappy but 
finest country of the globe, and of which the intelli- 
gent portion of the nation are now beginning to see 
the effects. Believe me when I tell you, from my own 
personal observation as well as collected information, 
that the way is now open, and, if proper and prompt 
measures are adopted, we may reasonably expect, ay, 
even in our time, to see the Gospel, founded on the 
prophets and apostles, and not on tradition, that great 



BIBLE IN SPAIN, ETC. ]^ 9 9 

corner stone of Eomish superstition, established in this 
country. But let it not be imagined for a moment 
that this will be the work of a day or of little exer- 
tion. No ; the prejudices and preoccupations of more 
than a thousand years are not so easily overcome. 
Let it fiot be supposed, that without immense exertion, 
we can hope to see even a moderate degree of success ; 
people bred from the cradle in the exercise of un- 
healthy opinions, however they may be convinced of 
their fallacy, are not so easily, after so long a course 
of indulgence in them, made to consent to their alter- 
ation, and particularly by reasons urged hj foreigner s.^^ 

The following year, a box of Bibles and Testaments 
in Spanish was forwarded to this gentleman at Cadiz. 

Nothing more of consequence appears to have been 
done by either of the Bible societies toward the dis- 
tribution of the Bible in Spain for several succeeding 
years. 

The irreformable spirit of popery and the distracted 
state of the country prevented the work from being 
carried on as it would have been done. 

In its labors the Bible Society acts somewhat in ac- 
cordance with the policy that governed the great 
Apostle of the Gentiles, who, on being rejected as a 
missionary to one nation, turned his attention and di- 
rected his steps to another. 

In 1846, the board granted a box of Bibles and 
Testaments, in Spanish, to the Foreign Evangelical 
Society, for distribution on the coast of Spain. 

The latest intelligence obtained from official records 
in regard to Bible distribution in that country is gather- 
ed from the last report of the British and Foreign Bi- 
ble Society. In this there is nothing very encoura- 
ging, yet we trust the day is not far distant when 
Spain and other Catholic countries, like France, will 
awake to her true interests in the adoption of more 



200 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

liberal principles, and at least consent to the reading 
and circulation of the Bible. 

In Italy, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, and other papal 
countries, but little had been accomplished in the way 
of distribution. Through the Philo-Italian Society, the 
circulation has increased to a great extent for a few 
years past in Italy. 

A correspondent now at Eome says the Bible is 
freely circulated there at the present time. It is read 
by all, and frequently appealed to in controversy. 

E. Corderoy, Esq., of London, in writing to the edi- 
tors of the Christian Advocate and Journal, New York, 
says, a Bible meeting was recently held at the baths 
of Lucca, a Bible Society formed, and a collection 
taken up of one hundred dollars in aid of the cause. 
Thousands of Bibles, on the request of the inhabitants, 
have been sent to Sicily by the British and Foreign 
Bible Society. 

A correspondent of the London Christian Times, 
writing from Italy a few weeks since, says : 

" Advertisements for the public sale of copies of the Holy Scriptures 
lie before me, in Italy, where, but a few months ago, even one copy 
would have been seized by the custom-house officers. We may have 
depots for the Bible Society wherever we please, and ought to have 
one, at least, in every principal town of the Lombardo-Venetian, Tus- 
can, and Sardinian dominions. We should be able to offer a Bible or 
a New Testament to every family at a moderate price, and should en- 
deavor to supply the schools. And if some vigorous effort be not made 
by means of a well-chosen, living agency, the favorable juncture will 
be missed, future evangelization will be impeded, and infidel reaction 
will become chronic. Such an agency was estabhshed in Spain, al- 
though in the face of serious obstacles ; and the adventurous Borrow 
and persevering Graydon, by merely circulating the volumes, effected 
a benefit which can never be undone. 

" In Austria, too, the fetters have dropped from long-imprisoned 
Christianity as by the touch of an angel. Many thousands of per- 
sons are said to have seceded from the Romish communion at Vienna 
alone, and united themselves, together with many priests, to the Ger- 
man Catholic Church. They see as through a glass darkly — very 



BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 201 

darkly ; but their mind is severed from old attachments, vacillates be- 
tween truth and error, is inquisitive, and with the profession of candor, 
at least, is looking for more certain guidance. For Austria, nay, for 
all Germany, and for Italy and the Italian islands, we need suitable 
agents and a well-directed system of colportage." 

Grants have been made for printing tlie New Testa- 
ment at Geneva in Switzerland for the Italians in 
Sardinia. 



CHAPTER XXn. 

BIBLE PROHIBITION IN ROMAN CATHOLIC COUNTRIES. 

Notwithstanding we have, in several instances, al- 
luded to this subject, we present the folio Aving addi- 
tional facts in relation to the systematic and persever- 
ing efforts of the Roman Catholic Church to prohibit 
the reading and circulation of the Holy Scriptures in 
the vulgar tongue. These facts are drawn from va- 
rious but well-authenticated sources of information. 
The first, and that which forms the basis of all subse- 
quent facts in regard to this subject, is found in the 
Index Prohibitorum of the Council of Trent, ordained 
in 1564, and beginning " Cum experimento manifest- 
um sit." '' Inasmuch as it is manifest by experience 
that if the Holy Bible, translated into the vulgar 
tongue, be indiscriminately allowed to every one, the 
temerity of men will cause more evil than good to 
arise from it; it is, on this point, referred to the judg- 
ment of the bishops or inquisitors, who may, by the 
advice of the priest or confessor, permit the reading 
of the Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue by Cath- 
olic authors, to those persons whose faith and piety 
they apprehend will be augmented and not injured by 



202 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



it, and this permission they must have in writing. 
But if any one shall have the presumption to read or 
possess it without such written permission, he shall 
not receive absolution until he have first delivered up 
such Bible to the ordinary," &c. 

It is worthy of remark, that this same papal decree 
which prohibits the reading of the Word of God, or- 
dains that books ^' written by the heathens are per- 
mitted to be read because of the elegance and propri- 
ety of the language." This is what we would call 
progressing backward. 

In Protestant countries, where the ghostly despot- 
ism of Rome is held in check, this fourth rule of the 
Index of Prohibited Books, on which so many popes 
have dwelt with such fond delight, can only be en- 
forced to the letter where popery is absolutely dom- 
inant. 

In all the dominions of the Emperor of Austria, Bi- 
bles, whether in the Hebrew or in the vulgar tongue, 
are prohibited. In the province of Tyrol, six hundred 
Protestant Tyrolese were compelled to expatriate 
themselves in 1837, having been led to renounce the 
errors and corruptions of popery by the reading of the 
Bible. 

In France, popery, as an old dead tree, stretching 
out its haggard, leafless branches like the ghost of de- 
parted greatness and power, is ready to fall. The peo- 
ple, having tasted of the pure waters of life from the 
fountain of Divine truth, will never- again go back to 
the stagnant pools of Rome. 

In Belgium, every opposition which can well be 
conceived has for many years been made to the circu- 
lation of the Holy Scriptures. 

Bible distributers have not merely been reproached, 
insulted, and threatened, but mobs have been instigat- 
ed to maltreat and injure them. Their Bibles have 



BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 203 

been stolen or forcibly taken away, and torn to pieces 
or burned before their eyes. 

A bishop by the name of Bruges denounced the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society as " a society hostile to 
God and to the holy Church — a society which would 
rob his dear children of all that is most dear to them.'' 
Citing the encyclical letter of Leo XII., he character- 
ized the circulation of the Scriptures as " the infamous 
project of that anti- Christian society, by which the 
world was inundated with heretical Bibles, in which 
the perfidy of heretics had carried sacrilegious temerity 
to such an extent as shamefully to mutilate the Old 
Testament by striking out the books of Tobit, Judith, 
Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, and the Maccabees." 
These same books, so precious in the eyes of the Ro- 
man priests, known as the Apocrypha, were never rec- 
ognized by the Jews or primitive Christians, or the 
Greek Chm'ch, nor by any general council, as canon- 
ical, until the Council of Trent, in the most shame- 
less abandonment of truth, calling itself oecumenical, 
or general, pronounced them "holy and canonical," 
with a curse against all who would not receive them 
as such. 

The Roman Church is as superstitious as heathen- 
ism. The splendid crown presented on Ascension 
Day, May 25th, 1843, to a "miraculous image of the 
Virgin," invoked as the Mother of Mercy, in the pres- 
ence of the king, queen, and their dear baby, the Duke 
of Brabant, was as rich in decoration as the scene was 
ridiculous. 

In Portugal, the Scriptures are unkno\vn among 
the peasantry. There the power of the pope is su- 
preme, and his subjects most blindly adhere to the 
decree infallible of Leo, prohibiting the reading of 
what he is pleased to term " the Gospel of the Devil 
and deadly Pastures," on pain of damnation. In this, 



204 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



however, he has not the " unanimous consent of the 
fathers," for St. Augustine, St. Chrysostom, St. Cypri- 
an, and St. Gregory, all recommended the reading and 
study of the Holy Scriptures. Now, in regard to this 
" unanimous consent" for the interpretation of the 
Scriptures, we have a word to say. If the priests of 
Holy Mother had intelligence enough to read the fa- 
thers, which is far from heing the case with many of 
them, their unanimous consent could never he ohtain- 
ed in support of any one of the dogmas of popery, from 
the fact that these writings ahound in almost endless 
contradictions. That, as Dr. Brownlee asserts, '' the 
priests are, in general, two hundred years hehind the 
literature of the age," is susceptible of the clearest 
proof, and the assumption that they are, as a body, 
learned, is perfectly ridiculous. 

In regard to the Scriptures, their ignorance has been 
proverbial from the days of the Reformation. 

When that great event was talked about among the 
priests, several of them affirmed that the New Testa- 
ment was a book made by Martin Luther. A monk in 
Germany, declaiming against the Reformation, said, " A 
new language has been invented called the Greek," 
and he exhorted his friends to "guard carefully against 
it, as the mother of every species of heresy." '' The 
New Testament," said he, "is written in that lan- 
guage, and it is a book full of thorns and serpents." 

In Spain, the Bible is a prohibited book unless it 
be accompanied with notes from the fathers and Ro- 
mish divines, and Felix Torres Amat, bishop of As- 
toria, could not obtain permission from the Index at 
Rome for publishing his Spanish version of the Scrip- 
tures, with notes, but on the condition " that he would 
show his readers that the reading of the Bible is not 
necessary to salvation^ This condition he subse- 
quently fulfilled " by duly instructing the readers that 



BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 205 

they might go to heaven without reading the Word 
of God." 

In 1S38, the circulation of the Gospel of Luke, 
which Mr. Borrow had translated into the dialect of 
the Gitanos, or Spanish gipsies, was prohibited by an 
ordinance of the Spanish government, as also the cir- 
culation of the same Gospel in the Spanish Basque 
dialect, which is spoken in the provinces of Guipuscoa 
and Biscay. 

In Itali/, the Bible is a condemned and prohibited 
book, and unknown until very recently. The Virgin 
Mary is the chief object of devout admiration. If a 
beggar in the streets asks alms, it is for the love of the 
Virgin. 

At Nice, in the dominions of the King of Sardinia, " 
in 1837, twenty-four persons were imprisoned, by or- 
der of the Sardinian government, for the heinous 
crime of having in their possession the Bible. Simi- 
lar restrictions against the Bible exist in Leghorn. 

At Rome, until within a few months past, the Bible 
was a strange and rare book. The only edition of it 
authorized to be sold there is in fifteen large volumes, 
which are filled with popish commentaries. Of course 
none but the rich can purchase a copy of the Sacred 
Scriptures ; indeed, very few of the common people 
knew there was such a book in existence as the Bible. 

It is stated as a fact in Mendham's " Literary Poli- 
cy of the Church of Home," that not one single edi- 
tion of the New Testament in Greek had ever been 
issued from the Boman press. Efforts were frequent- 
ly made, and indulgences granted at different times 
for the publication, but they were as often revoked, 
fearing that the publication of the Scriptures in any 
other than the Latin tongue would prove injurious to 
the Church. 

In Ireland, the opposition of the Romish priests to 



206 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the circulation of the Scriptures is a matter of no- 
toriety. 

The Eomish archbishops and bishops, in giving 
publicity to the encyclical letter of Leo XII., accom- 
panied with " pastoral instructions to all the faithful," 
declared, " that as the books distributed by the Bible 
Society, under the name of Bibles and Testaments, 
treat of religion, and are not sanctioned by us, or by 
any competent authority in the (Roman) Catholic 
Church, the use, the perusal, or retaining of them is 
entirely and without any exception prohibited to yotj ; 
and should any of them be in your possession, they 
are to be returned to the persons who may have be- 
stowed them on you, or otherwise to be destroyed^ 

The Archbishop of Tuam said to his dear people, 
" Any person who practices the reading of the Bible 
will inevitably fall into everlasting destruction. I 
would therefore, my dear friends and followers, earn- 
estly beseech you, hy the love that you hear to the Vir- 
gin Mary and the dear priests, not to allow these Bi- 
ble readers near your houses, not to speak to them 
when you meet them on the roads, but put up your 
hands and pray to the Virgin Mary to keep you from 
being contaminated with the poison of the Bible. The 
worst of all pestilences, the pestilence of the Bible, 
will entail on yourselves and children the everlasting 
ruin of your souls. They who send their children to 
schools where the Scriptures are read give them bound 
in chains to the devil." Bibles have been burned in 
Ireland as well as Belgium. 

On the departure of the American missionaries from 
Damascus, in Syria, the Franciscan monks required 
all the Christian communities to give up their Bibles, 
and they were burned in the court of the convent. 

In South and Central America^ the same state of 
things exists in regard to the general ignorance of the 



BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 20 7 

Scriptures and their prohibition. At Ecuador a be- 
nevolent individual opened a school and circulated 
some Bibles. He was denounced by the Bishop of 
Quito for the " crying enormity" of having " promoted 
the general reading of the Scriptures in the Spanish 
tongue, without notes, contrary to the prohibitions of 
the holy Roman Catholic Church." 

In the West Indies, one of the two Roman bishops 
resident on the island of Trinidad boasted that he 
*' had taken between two and three hundred Bibles 
and Testaments from the people of his flock, and 
placed them under lock and key." 

Rome is the same in Protestant as she is in papal 
countries, and just so far as the influence of the 
Chm'ch extends is the Bible restricted in its circula- 
tion. The " faithful" have been deprived of it in 
England and the United States. In both countries 
the priests have committed it to the flames. 

We need not go back to the times of Henry IV. 
and Henry VIIL, and the sanguinary reign of Mary, 
to produce evidences of hostility from the papacy to 
the Bible in England; recent times abound with proofs 
of the most incontestable character. The hypocritical 
pretensions and professions of the Rev. Peter Gan- 
dolphy, a Romish priest in London, as developed in a 
letter to Bishop Marsh, in which he says, "■ If any of 
the Bible societies feel disposed to try our esteem for 
the Bible by presenting us with some copies of a 
Catholic version, with or without notes, we will grate- 
fully accept and faithfully distribute them," shows 
most conclusively that Rome is driven to the miser- 
able pretext of "keeping up appearances," while, at the 
same time, she has no intention whatever of making 
her professions good. Bibles were immediately sent, 
but they were as promptly put '' under lock and key," 
or committed to the flames. 



208 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

In 1838, the organization of a " Catholic Bible So- 
ciety" was announced in Leicestershire. This, to all 
intents and purposes, was a secret society, as none of 
its operations were ever known to the community, and 
the name itself has almost passed away from the mem- 
ory of the inhabitants. 

In Ireland, within a very short time past, the Bible 
has been burned by Roman priests, and poor, defense- 
less women and children have been beaten and driven 
from their homes for having it in their possession. 
Dr. Dill, a delegate from the Presbyterian Church in 
Ireland to the American Churches, attests these facts. 

But the smoke of God's blessed Book has darkened 
this fair land of religious toleration and liberty. The 
following well-authenticated statement will speak for 
itself: 

" Chazy, N. Y., June 7, 1843. 
" My dear Sm, — Yours of the 28th of April last was duly received, 
and I should have answered it a long time ago, but, as the occurrence 
to which you particularly referred in it had taken place during my ab- 
sence from this place, I thought it best to take all the information I 
could have on the subject from persons more closely acquainted with 
the transaction than I was myself Consequently, I called upon Mr. 
Woodruff, our Congregationalist minister in this place, and also upon 
Mr. Hubbell, who had taken considerable pains in ascertaining as near 
as possible the exact state of that unfortunate and horrible affair of the 
burning of Bibles at Corbeau. I also received a long letter on the 
same subject from Mr. Brinkerhoof, the Presbyterian minister of Cham- 
plain, and now I hasten to lay before you what I know of this guilty 
transaction. As far as I can ascertain, from 100 to 150 Bibles were 
burned last November at Corbeau, through the influence and by the 
special command of an infuriated Romish Jesuit named Father Tel- 
mond, who had been sent there, with several others, by the Bishop of 
Montreal, to hold a protracted meeting among the votaries of the beast. 
After much inquiry, I can not find out that there has been any Bible 
burned out of those which I have personally distributed. I am posi- 
tive that there is none of your last invoice of last fall which have fall- 
en into the hands of those voracious birds of iwey. Those burned seem 
to have been distributed by the Champlain Auxiliary Society ; some 
were from the town cf Luvers, others from Beekmantown, and some 



BIBLE PROHIBITION, ETC. 209 

even from the town of Plattsburgli. As to the effect produced upon 
the public mmd, it has been various. In some quarters it seems to 
have struck the Protestant population with awe and with deep horror, 
while it appears, also, to have totally discouraged them as to the prob- 
abihty, and even the possibility, of being ever able to effect some good 
for the Romish population, and to retrieve them from their errors and 
present religious degradation. With some other Protestants it struck 
quite ujDon another chord ; their feelings of indignation against this 
daring and sacrilegious act, and of deep pity and Christian philanthropy 
for the poor deluded victims of the crafty Jesuits, appear to have been 
considerably raised, and they are now more decided than ever to con- 
tinue their efforts in behalf of the Romans, to open their eyes and en- 
lighten their minds. 

"As to the Romish population itself, I believe that this evil design- 
ing act of burning publicly the Bibles has done an immense good to 
them, generally speaking. I can relate instances where it was the 
visible cause of bringing souls to Christ. There are now in our little 
church three of the most promising converts, who have been so shock-* 
ed at this daring outrage upon the sacred Word of God that they 
forthwith withdrew from the Church of Rome. One is now engaged 
in the good work of colportage, and proves to be one of the most faith- 
fiil and most intelligent guardians that has been brought from dark- 
ness to light since the beginning of the missionary movements among 
the Canadians. The other is gifted with the most prayerful soul that 
has as yet been met with among his converted countrymen. The third 
one is the wife of the colporteur, and she also walks steadfastly under 
the eye of her Maker. I have no doubt that the burning of the Bibles 
has done no harm to the missionary cause, but, on the contrary, I am 
fully convinced that God has overruled their evil design. 

" Before concluding this letter, I must acknowledge that I have re- 
ceived the box of Bibles and of New Testaments which you sent me 
last fall. I must pay you a very deserved compliment for the nice 
binding and good print of your Martin's Bibles ; and I have thought it 
more prudent to distribute generally those of other prints, and keep 
these fine Martin's Bibles for converted families. I have distributed 
something between thirty and forty out of the hundred which you sent 
me. The cause of the Almighty is prospering here and in Canada. 
I am leaving in three days from hence for this latter place, where I 
am to attend protracted meetings at two or. three different places. 
Pray, my dear sir, for me, that I may grow in knowledge, wisdom, 
and grace. 

" Allow me to subscribe myself, with due regard, your most humble 
and faithful servant, C. H. O. Cote. 

"Rev. J. C. Brigham." 

o 



2IQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

More recent than all in regard to Bible burning, we 
copy the following from a writer in the Montreal 
Herald of the present year : 

" The Roman Catholic clergy in Canada are, with few exceptions 
(I know of only two), opposed to the circulation of the Bible ; and any 
one who will take the trouble to go into the houses of the French hab- 
itans, and make inquiry, will find that they have been quite successful 
in their opposition. He will scarcely find a Bible or Testament in 
one house in a thousand, except where Protestant agents have distrib- 
uted it. In 1839, the Rev. Mr. Rabelle, cure of L' Assumption, burned 
five Bibles and one Testament, which had been circulated in his par- 
ish by the agent of the Montreal Bible Society, and for which he after- 
ward paid. In 1842, as stated by the New York Journal of Com- 
merce, between 200 and 300 Bibles were burned at a Roman Catho- 
lic protracted meeting in the village of Corbeau, near Lake Cham- 
plain. I have before me a letter from Quebec, dated the third of this 
month, in which the writer informs me that a priest on the island of 
Orleans, finding a Bible in a house which he visited, told the person 
who had purchased it that it was ' a bad book,' and persuaded him to 
tear it to pieces and throw it into the fire. Similar facts might be 
given, to almost any extent, from the journals of the Montreal Bible 
Society, and from the French Canadian Missionary Society ; but I 
forbear." 

Macaulay, in his inimitable history, says, in regard 
to Romanism, " During the last three centuries, the 
chief object of the Church of Rome has been to stunt 
the growth of the human mind. Throughout Christen- 
dom, whatever advance has been made in knowledge, 
in freedom, in wealth, and in the arts of life, has been 
made in spite of her, and has every where been in in- 
verse proportion to her power. The loveliest and 
most fertile provinces of Europe have under her rule 
been sunk in poverty, in political servitude, and in in- 
tellectual torpor, while Protestant countries, once pro- 
verbial for sterility and barbarism, have been turned 
by skill and industry into gardens, and can boast of a 
long list of heroes and statesmen, philosophers and 
poets. Whoever, knowing what Italy and Scotland 



BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 211 

naturally are, and what four hundred years ago they 
actually were, shall now compare the country round 
Rome with the country round Edinburgh, will be able 
to form some judgment as to the tendency of papal 
domination. The descent of Spain, once the first 
among monarchies, to the lowest depths of degrada- 
tion ; the elevation of Holland, in spite of many natu- 
ral disadvantages, to a position such as no common- 
wealth so small has ever reached, teach the same 
lesson. AYhoever passes in Germany from a Roman 
Catholic to a Protestant principality ; in Switzerland 
from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant canton; in 
Ireland from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant coun- 
ty, finds that he has passed from a lower to a higher 
grade of civilization. On the other side of the Atlantic! 
the same law prevails. The Protestants of the United 
States have left far behind them the Roman Catholics 
of Mexico, Peru, and Brazil. The Roman Catholics 
of Lower Canada remain inert, while the whole conti- 
nent around them is in a ferment with Protestant ac- 
tivity and enterprise." 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH, WEST INDIA, AND OTHER ISLANDS. 

The '' sure word of prophecy" which the society la- 
bors to circulate among all nations as " a lamp to their 
feet and a light to their path," assures us that " the 
isles shall wait for his law^'' a prediction which has 
met with a literal fulfillment. 

The Sandwich Islands compose one of the groups of 
the Polynesian Islands far to the north of the great 
mass of the Polynesian Archipelago. 



212 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

The attention of the society was called to the con- 
dition of these islands in the early part of its history, 
and the interest then awakened has continued un- 
abated from year to year until the present time, a 
period of nearly thirty years. 

To the first missionaries who started from Boston 
for the Sandwich Islands, in 1820, under the direction 
and patronage of the American Board of Commission- 
ers for Foreign Missions, the society made a grant of 
three hundred Bibles and Testaments. They also 
sent presents of splendid Bibles to each of the natives 
of the island of Owhyhee who had been educated at 
the Mission School in Connecticut, and who accom- 
panied the missionaries. Superior copies were also 
sent to the late king of Owhyhee, Tam-ah-am-ah-ah, 
and Tam-o-ree, king of Atooi. 

In 1822, the board, at the request of the American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, made 
a donation of Bibles and Testaments for the use of 
mariners at the Sandwich Islands. 

In 1826, a similar request was made from the same 
board for a supply of English and Spanish Scriptures 
for the islands, which was granted. 

During the year 1829, the Gospel of Matthew, 
which had been translated by the missionaries into 
the Hawaiian language, was published by the society, 
and fifteen thousand copies were prepared for ship- 
ment. In speaking of the demand for the Scriptures, 
Mr. Loomis, the printer, who had been a resident on 
the islands, says, " I know not a place in the world 
where the Scriptures are sought with greater avidity 
than at the Sandwich Islands. It was the earnest 
request of the rulers that they might be furnished 
with the entire volume of inspiration. It is a pleas- 
ing consideration that the natives entertain no prej- 
udices against the Word of God. Whatever is 



BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 213 

known to be there contained is at once admitted to 
be truth." 

The board received, in 1832, from St. Petersburg, 
Russia, a box of Russian and Slavonian New Testa- 
ments, to be forwarded to the Sandwich Islands, for 
Russian ships which touch there. 

The Rev. Mr. Knill sent, in company with the books, 
a very interesting letter, from which we make the fol- 
lowing extract. Speaking of St. Petersburg, he says, 
" We live at the gate of a mighty empire, among sixty 
millions of people, and we are enabled to distribute 
the sacred Word in all directions. In three years we 
have distributed twenty thousand volumes of the New 
Testament in various languages." 

During this year a letter was received from the 
Rev. Mr. Green, from the islands, in which he says, 
" The smiles of Jesus on the efforts made to convert 
the inhabitants of Hawaii have been signal. It is 
literally and emphatically true that these ' isles wait 
for his law.' With the continued smiles of the Savior, 
we hope to print the entire New Testament in the 
course of the next year. We shall greatly need paper, 
type, and ink, and we assure you that any donation 
your society may be pleased to make us shall be faith- 
fully appropriated to this object." 

Accordingly, a grant of five thousand dollars was 
made for the object above specified. 

On the reception of the above grant, the missiona- 
ries, which were at that time twenty in number, at 
their annual meeting passed several resolutions ex- 
pressive of their gratitude, in behalf of the islanders, 
for the liberal donation. 

The number of natives reported at this meeting as 
able to read was twenty-three thousand one hundred 
and twenty-seven. 

In 1837, the board granted to the American Board 



214 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of Missions three thousand dollars to promote the pub- 
lication and diffusion of the Scriptures in the Hawaiian 
language. The missionaries, in a communication to 
the board, use the following language : 

" We have completed the printing of an edition of 
ten thousand copies of our revised translation of the 
New Testament, at your expense. It is now binding 
and distributing, and is called for by the people as fast 
as a dozen native binders can put them up. We are 
prosecuting the translation of the Old Testament, and 
printing it in separate books, some of very small edi- 
tions. We cherish the hope of having the translation 
completed in eighteen months, perhaps a year from 
this date." 

A letter from one of the missionaries, in 1839, com- 
municates the cheering intelligence that a gracious 
revival of religion was in progress. The Spirit of God 
had been poured out copiously upon the seventeen 
churches, embracing twenty thousand regular hearers. 
The writer remarks, that ''the glorious Gospel, through 
the agency of the American Missionary, Bible, and 
Tract Societies, had been made a savor of life unto 
life to the multitudes, who were dead as the dry bones 
in Ezekiel's vision." 

Thirty thousand copies of the New Testament had 
been printed, and also a large portion of the Old Test- 
ament. 

Two thousand five hundred dollars were appropri- 
ated for the promotion of the circulation of the Bible 
during the year. 

In 1841, for the publication of the Hawaiian Scrip- 
tures, the board granted five thousand five hundred 
dollars. 

The translation of the entire Bible in the Hawaiian 
tongue was completed in 1839, and the board having 
examined it, no doubt was left on their minds in re- 



BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 215 

gard both to its fidelity, and in reference to its catho- 
lic character. In the eighteen churches on the Sand- 
wich Islands there were, in 1841, fifteen thousand nine 
hundred and fifteen communicants, and not far from 
nineteen thousand pupils connected with the common 
schools. The number of those who could read was 
estimated at between thirty and forty thousand. 

Two editions of the New Testament had been pub- 
lished of ten thousand copies each, and one edition of 
ten thousand copies of the entire Bible. 

The forcible establishment of French papal mission- 
aries rendered it increasingly important to have the 
Word of God placed in every household. 

To the chaplain of the American Seamen's Friend 
Society stationed at the islands was granted a sup- 
ply of Bibles and Testaments in different languages. 

To the Sandwich Island mission, in 1842, was paid 
the sum of five thousand dollars, toward the appropria- 
tion of ten thousand dollars made by the board. 

A society was organized at the Sandwich Islands, 
denominated the " Hawaiian Bible Society," auxilia- 
ry to the American Bible Society. To this society 
was granted by the board, in 1844, the sum of three 
thousand dollars. The following statement, from its 
second Report, will convey some idea of the nature 
and extent of its operations : 

" During the past, as in former years, the distribu- 
tion of the Scriptures has, to a great extent, been gra- 
tuitous. The people are poor, and it is with much 
difficulty that the mass can obtain the money requi- 
site for the payment of their taxes. The distribution 
has been in proportion to the readers in all parts of the 
field. Our plan of division is to give to each mission- 
ary station a just proportion of all the books printed, 
so that the divisions of islands, where the people are 
the poorest and least able to pay, are furnished as am- 



216 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

ply as the portions enjoying greater means and facil- 
ities." 

The influence of the Bible, forming, as it does, the 
basis of all their laws, exerts a happy and controlling 
power over all classes of the people. 

In 1845, a grant of fifteen hundred dollars was made 
to aid in the publication of the Hawaiian Scriptures. 
From the Report of the Hawaiian Bible Society we 
learn that an increased interest was manifested in the 
circulation of the Scriptures in the islands. 

For the same object there were forwarded to the 
Sandwich Islands fifteen hundred dollars in 1847. 

The society there is represented to be one of efficien- 
cy and system, and it is anticipated that incalculable 
good will result from its labors. 

As letters were expected by which grants were to 
be regulated, but had not arrived before the close of 
the financial year, no appropriations were made for the 
work of Bible distribution in the islands for 1848. 

As early as 1820, the Board of Managers sent a 
small quantity of Spanish Bibles and Testaments to 
Trinidad and St. Croix, the former of which is known 
as the most southerly of the Caribbee Islands, and is 
represented as being exceedingly fertile and beautiful. 

During the year 1825, a quantity of Bibles and 
Testaments was sent to St. Martin's and St. Croix. 
This year the society, as the almoners of the British 
and Foreign Bible Society, sent to Porto Praya three 
hundred Bibles and Testaments in the Portuguese 
language. 

Through the liberality of the New York Bible So- 
ciety, the immigrants to the island of Hayti were fur- 
nished with a suitable supply. A small number was 
also granted for the use of the schools. 

To Antigua was also sent a supply of Bibles and 
Testaments. 



BIBLE IN THE SANDWICH ISLANDS, ETC. 217 

In 1826, several boxes of Spanish Scriptures were 
sent to Cuba for sale and distribution at different 
places by Roman Catholic clergymen. 

Another box of Spanish and French Bibles and 
Testaments was sent to Hayti. 

In 1828, Bibles and Testaments were sent to Matan- 
zas and Port au Platte, and intrusted to Catholic cler- 
gymen. 

A small supply of French Testaments was sent to a 
religious captain of a vessel for Aux Cayes. 

On request of Mr. Wainwright, of Port au Prince, 
Hayti, a small quantity of French Bibles and Testa- 
ments was sent for distribution. 

In 1833, to a colony near Baracao, was sent a small 
supply of Spanish Bibles and Testaments. 

On application of a missionary at one of the Bahama 
Islands, in 1835, a grant of one hundred and fifty Bibles 
and Testaments was made. 

These books were portioned out to the inhabitants 
of New Providence, Turk's Island, Rum Key, Wolling's 
Sound, Exuma, Grand Bahama, and Andros Island. 

In 1843, to the Rev. Dr. M^Elroy, who had been in 
Santa Cruz, was granted fifteen hundred Bibles and 
Testaments for the Danish Islands. The propriety 
of the grant can be learned from the doctor's letter. 
He says, " The government has recently established 
schools at different points on the island of Santa Cruz, 
to sustain which would cost the treasury ten thousand 
dollars per annum. By law, planters are required to 
send all their young slaves to these schools for a period 
of four years, commencing with their fifth year. To 
keep pace with the intellectual improvement, and 
make provision for the religious training of the youth, 
the wise and good have fallen upon the expedient of 
Sabbath schools, and gentlemen and ladies of the first 
respectability are seen from Sabbath to Sabbath in- 



218 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

str acting the slaves, together with their own children. 
Multitudes of these children are without the Scrip- 
tures, and those who • have the heart have not the 
means to procure them for gratuitous distrihution." 

Other grants to a small amount were made to Hayti 
and Cuha the same year. 

In 1844, to Mr. Stevenson and a lady at St. Croix, 
for distribution, were granted seventy-three Bibles and 
Testaments in Danish and French; and to the Rev. 
Mr. Hanson, a Protestant Episcopal missionary at Key 
West, were sent one hundred and eighteen Bibles and 
Testaments for the destitute. 

To the R-ev. Mr. Brett were sent Rye hundred and 
fifty Bibles and Testaments, to the island of St. Thomas ; 
and to the Rev. Mr. Towler, Wesleyan missionary at 
Hayti, were granted one hundred and seven Bibles and 
Spanish Gospels. 

During the year 1845, to a Wesleyan missionary at 
Hayti, were sent French Bibles and Testaments ; and 
to a gentleman at St. Croix were sent one hundred and 
fifty Bibles for distribution. 

To the Rev. Mr. Bretty of the Reformed Dutch Church 
at St. Thomas, were sent four hundred and seventy- 
five Bibles and Testaments in English, German, and 
Spanish. 

One hundred Portuguese Testaments were sent to 
Mr. Dabney at the Azore Islands for distribution. 

During the following year, grants of Bibles were 
made to Key West, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and Cuba. 

In 1847, for the use of the slave population of St. 
Croix, on the recommendation of the Rev. Mr. Mines, 
there were granted by the board five hundred Bibles 
and Testaments. 

To a resident of Cuba, a small quantity of Spanish 
Bibles and Testaments was granted for distribution. 

To a missionary of the Reformed Presbyterian 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 219 

Church were granted, in 1848, one hundred and fifty- 
Bibles and Testaments, in French, for Hayti. These 
books were for the use of the mission. 

At the same time there were granted to the Bahama 
Bible Society, on the request of its secretary, two 
hundred Spanish Bibles and the same number of 
Testaments, and two hundred Spanish Gospels, the 
latter being designed for distribution by a friend at 
Matanzas, Cuba. 

All hither as well as farther Polynesia presents a 
most inviting field ; and every island of the numerous 
groups invites occupancy, and promises a rich and plen- 
tiful harvest. 



CHAPTER XXIY. 

BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 

This country embraces the southeastern part of the 
continent of Asia. It derives its name from the dy- 
nasty of Tsin. It was anciently called Tien-sha, 
which signifies under heaven^ and implies that it is 
only inferior to heaven ; hence the Chinese call it the 
" Celestial Empire." Like the ancient Egyptians, the 
Chinese lay claim to the most extravagant antiquity, 
while their authentic history does not commence un- 
til the age of Confucius, who flourished about five 
centuries before the Christian era. 

The extent of the country from north to south is 
about one thousand four hundred and fifty miles, and 
from east to west about one thousand two hundred 
and sixty miles, an area larger than the United States. 

Its population is variously estimated. The most ac- 
curate statement, perhaps, is that contained in Good- 



220 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

rich's Modern History, which puts it down at three 
hundred and fifty millions, a number seventeen times 
greater than that of the United States. The govern- 
ment of the country is despotic, the emperor claiming 
to rule by the appointment of heaven. 

As a missionary field, there is, perhaps, no one in the 
world more interesting or inviting. If the population 
of the heathen world be estimated at seven hundred 
millions, then China alone embraces one half of the 
entire heathen world. 

Whatever relates to the introduction of the Bible 
into the " Celestial Empire" must prove of interesting 
importance to all who desire to see heathen rites and 
barbarous customs superseded by Christian civiliza- 
tion and refinement. 

Though we are disposed to place little reliance upon 
traditional accounts, yet the following from Townley's 
Biblical Literature is worthy of notice, and, if true, 
will show that this vast population was early visited 
by the missionary : 

"In 637, a Christian mission from Syria arrived in 
China, under the superintendence of a minister whom 
the Chinese call Olopen, and had the good fortune to 
obtain the emperor's protection, who ordered his prime 
minister to translate the Scriptures brought by Olopen 
into the Chinese language. During some following 
centuries Christianity prevailed, with a few variations, 
in the Chinese Empire, where the names of several 
bishops and other ministers are left on record." 

Professor Lassar, of the Anglo-Hindoo College at 
Calcutta, an Armenian Christian, in 1807 translated 
the Gospel of Matthew into the Chinese language ; 
and in 1808, the same gentleman, in connection with 
his pupils, among whom was Mr. Marshman, com- 
pleted the translation of all the Gospels into that 
tongue. 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 221 

The Bible was translated into the Chinese language, 
at great toil and expense, by Dr. Marshman, the elder 
pupil of Professor Lassar, in 1819, since which time 
the British and Foreign and American Bible Societies 
have labored assiduously to promote the circulation 
of the Scriptures in that country. 

A communication to the Board of the American Bi- 
ble Society from Dr. Morrison, at Canton, in 1822, 
states that the free dissemination of the Bible in China 
proper was impracticable, and the same was the case 
with all books that exhibited the claims of Jesus and 
treated of his salyation. 

In 1823, the whole Bible was printed in Chinese. 
from a translation by Drs. Morrison and Milne, thou- 
sands of copies of which were put in circulation. 

IVothing more occurs m the reports until the year 
1832, when the board received a communication from 
the Rev. Mr. Bridgman, at Canton, containing a strong 
appeal for means to prepare and circulate the Chinese 
Scriptures. He states that, since the translation of 
the Bible in that language, changes that caused joy in 
heaven had taken place. Two editions of Bibles, 
three of the New Testament, and four of the Psalms 
had been printed and put in circulation, to the num- 
ber of between twelve and fifteen thousand. 

Another fact, he says, which gives them a strong 
claim to the attention of the society is, " that they are 
a reading people. In this respect they are probably 
superior to any pagan nation of ancient or modern 
times. Buddhism, with all its absurdities, has worked 
its way into every nook and corner of the empire, 
through all the grades of society, by means of books, 
without the aid of teachers. Give the Chinese the 
Bible, and at once a very large proportion of the pop- 
ulation can read it. Thousands are now accessible, 
and would willingly receive the bread of life. There 



222 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

is no one language on earth in which the Bihle, were 
it universally distributed, could be read by so many 
millions as in the Chinese language. Take a survey 
of the field. From Canton pass up through Formosa, 
Loo Choo on to Corea, thence pass westward along 
the Russian frontiers for more than two thousand 
miles to the center of Asia, from thence, in a south- 
eastern direction, travel down through Thibet, Siam, 
Penang, Malacca, across the equator on to Java, and 
by a circuitous route, including the numerous islands 
in the Indian Archipelago, return to the place of your 
departure, and you will have included in the vast area 
one third part of the human family. Though there 
are different languages and dialects within these limits, 
yet throughout the whole extent, the Bible, if possess- 
ed in the Chinese language, can be read. With such 
a territory, and such a waiting and reading popula- 
tion, we feel impelled and encouraged to ask for the 
prayers and charities of the American Bible Society." 

Although the walls of the " Celestial Empire" re- 
mained impervious to the distributer of the Bible, yet 
the intelligence received through the labors of that in- 
defatigable philanthropist, Grutzlaff, whose tours ex- 
tended along the eastern and northern parts of Chi- 
na, encouraged the hope that at no distant day the 
Bible would enter and have free course within the 
walls of that vast empire. 

In Siam and along the southern borders of China 
the people are accessible. Four hundred and forty 
thousand Siamese were represented as being ready for 
the Bible in 1833. 

The board made an appropriation of three thousand 
dollars for the circulation of the Bible in China. 

In 1843, a letter from the mission established in 
Canton, after expressing thankfulness to the board for 
its grant, and also a hope that it will be succeeded by 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 223 

others, states that Leang Afa, a distinguished Chris- 
tian convert, was in that city distributing portions of 
the Scripture to the inhabitants, but more particularly 
among the students and literati. 

Mr. GutzlafF, while in Corea, presented the king 
with twenty-one volumes of the Scriptures, which 
w^ere accepted. In visiting the province of Cheteang 
and the Chusa Islands, he writes, '^ All that I had for- 
merly seen was nothing compared with the ardent de- 
sire evinced by the natives to obtain books. Had I 
fifty thousand copies of the Scriptures, they would all 
have been scattered among eager readers." 

From Fokin province, four hundred miles interior 
from Canton, he writes, " Here is a wide door opened. 
I have traversed large tracts of country with boxes of . 
books, and had only to regret that I had not the pleas- 
ure of distributing them, for the people robbed me of 
every volume, such was the eagerness with which they 
seized upon them. There is a great error abroad con- 
cerning China, in a spiritual point of view. No coun- 
try of Asia, ruled by native princes, is so easy of ac- 
cess. I am noAV writing a work against the three pre- 
vailing superstitions of China, and hope to follow this 
by an essay on the Trinity." He states it as his con- 
fident opinion that China would be visited with the 
glorious Gospel. He says, in conclusion, " My whole 
heart is set upon the work. If the Savior grants me 
grace, I shall labor to the last, and my last breath be 
a prayer in behalf of China's salvation." 

In 1835, another communication was received from 
the Rev. Mr. Bridgman, missionary at Canton. Among 
other things, he says, '' It is impossible for those who 
have not given particular attention to the condition 
and situation of these Eastern nations to believe that 
the Chinese Empire contains three hundred and sixty 
millions of human beings, or that those who can read 



224 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the Scriptures in the Chinese language constitute more 
than one third of our race. 

" The principal part of your grant will be employed 
in printing the Chinese Bible at Malacca. Many cop- 
ies will be needed for immediate circulation, and 
should a missionary ship be sent out to visit the coast 
and the Chinese settlements, many thousand copies 
will at once be required, and perhaps, very soon, many 
millions." 

A letter from the evangelist Leang Afa, giving an 
account of his conversion, his punishment by govern- 
ment for printing portions of the Scriptures from blocks 
prepared by himself, the instructions he received from 
Dr. Milne at the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, 
and closing by an appeal to the society for aid in print- 
ing the Chinese Bible, that he might circulate it among 
his countrymen, was received by the board. 

A letter from the Rev. Charles Gutzlaff, in regard 
to Bible distribution, says, " If only the one hundredth 
Chinaman was to get a Bible from you, a ten-year's 
income would not be sufficient to defray the expenses. 
Pray to the Lord that he will not only open an effect- 
ual door to all the maritime provinces, but also to the 
whole empire. I inform you that all the parts of Scrip- 
ture which were sent to my care were distributed to 
eager readers at Formosa and in Fokin. A total re- 
vision of the whole Chinese Scripture is a matter of 
urgent necessity ; and we have therefore set to work 
to furnish a new edition in order to answer the wants 
of the people. Every care and attention will be be- 
stowed upon this important undertaking." 

The following truthful and beautiful allegory, from 
the pen of the Rev. Mr. Abeel, represents the utility of 
the Bible in China : 

" He knew but one missionary in whom he could 
place complete confidence. That missionary he had 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 225 

met in China. He was instructed in the languages, 
and diligent in exertion ; he had made voyages from 
island to island ; he had gone forth unaided and alone ; 
he had entered villages and hamlets ; he dared to en- 
ter the place of him who was called ^ The Son of 
Heaven,' and had ventured to tell him the true way 
to heaven. That missionary had done him the honor 
to he his companion, and such another companion he 
never expected to find. Where he could not go, that 
missionary went. He had never left him. In enter- 
ing regions which had no teacher, he was still his 
companion. He went among all classes ; he ahode 
with him for weeks at a time ; he animated all his 
exertions, and, what was most remarkable, with all his 
powers, with all his elevation of soul, he became his 
servant; he entered even the junks, and taught the 
mariners ; he went on, and entered China itself. 
Surely all will desire to know who he was. He would 
tell them who he was not. He was not a Church- 
man nor a Dissenter; he was not a Calvinist nor an 
Arminian ; he was not an American, nor an English- 
man, nor a Scotchman, nor a Hollander. He appeared 
to hate all sects, and many of those who were the 
most prominent he had never even mentioned. That 
missionary is The Bible!" 

The report of 1836 states that Messrs. Gutzlaff, 
Bridgman, Medhurst, and Morrison were engaged con- 
jointly in revising the Chinese Scriptures. 

The board this year granted one thousand dollars to 
the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions for the purpose 
of circulating the Scriptures in China. 

To the American Board of Missions, for preparing 
the Chinese Scriptures, five hundred dollars. 

To Messrs. Oliphant and associates at Canton, to- 
ward transporting and distributing the same in China, 
one thousand dollars. 

P 



226 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



To the Protestant Episcopal Board of Missions, for 
Chinese Scriptures, five hundred dollars. 

To the American Board of Foreign Missions, for 
Chinese Scriptures, four thousand dollars. 

To the same, for the Chinese, Malay, Siamese, and 
Bugis Scriptures, seven thousand five hundred dollars. 

In 1838, the Rev. Mr. Gutzlaff communicated to the 
board information of the preparation, under his super- 
vision, of the New Testament in Japanese. He had 
in his family two natives of Japan, one of whom was 
wholly devoted to the prosecution of the work. The 
board, on request, paid for the services of this transla- 
tor seventy-two dollars per year. 

The new Chinese version, alluded to in a former 
report, created a difference of sentiment among the 
missionaries in regard to its merits. The principal 
objection was in regard to the retention of the Chinese 
idiom. This peculiarity rendered it more acceptable 
to the Chinese than a more literal one. The British 
and Foreign Bible Society withdrew their patronage 
from it, and the American Society postponed their de- 
cision until further advised. 

An interesting letter was received from the Rev. Mr. 
Rottger, a Dutch missionary at Rio, in relation to his 
labors in distributing the Bible among the Chinese. 
He had visited and distributed the Scriptures at Rio, 
at Banca, and at Palembang in Sumatra. At Mun- 
tok, in Banca, he says, " They built a new Chinese 
temple. I went in with the eternal Gospel in my 
hand, and gave the workmen some copies. I spoke to 
them about that one thing which is needful for the 
salvation of their immortal souls. Immediately the 
temple was crowded with Chinamen, seeming to be 
glad of what they heard and read. In this way the 
Gospel has been preached in this temple before it was 
ready to act their idolatrous superstition in it." 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 227 

The prospects for the Bihle cause in China, in 1839, 
were more gloomy than they had heen previously. 
This was attributable to several causes. The doubts 
entertained in regard to the propriety of circulating 
the new version — the cutting off the communication 
with the remote provinces, where most of the distribu- 
tions had previously been made, except by vessels en- 
gaged in the illicit and ruinous opium trade, embark- 
ation in which, by religious men, would have been as 
questionable as the taking a passage in" a slaver — 
these combined, served to produce despondency in the 
minds of the friends of the cause at home and abroad. 
Incipient measures were taken, however, to remedy 
the last-named difficulty, by procuring and sending to 
Canton a small vessel for the purpose of transporting 
the Bible and its distributer. 

A communication from Mr. Gntzlaff in relation to 
distributions at Macao was more encouraging. 

In the environs of that place he visited thirty vil- 
lages, several hundred national vessels, and distribu- 
ted about two hundred volumes of Testaments. 

1840. The disturbed relation between the Chinese 
and foreigners was of such a nature as to preclude al- 
most entirely the circulation of the Scriptures. 

In consequence of the difficulty connected with the 
circulation of the versions of the Chinese Scriptures, 
to which allusion has already been made, the first 
translation, by Dr. Morrison, being too literal and sim- 
ple in style to suit the Chinese, especially the educat- 
ed portion, and the latter, though popular with that 
class, yet exceptionable to the missionaries and the 
British and Foreign Bible Society on account of its 
figurative and paraphrastic character — in 1843, the 
missionaries of Europe and America, of all denomina- 
tions except the papal, undertook to prepare a version 



228 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

retaining all the good features, without the defects of 
the two previous translations. 

The meeting of the above-named missionaries was 
held at Hong Kong. 

Present, Messrs. Dyer, Hohson, Legge, Medhurst, 
Milne, and A. and J. Stronach, of the London Missios- 
ary Society ; Messrs. Bridgman and Ball, of the Amer- 
ican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions ; 
Messrs. Dean and Boherts, of the American Baptist 
Board ; and Mr. Brown, of the Morrison Education So- 
ciety. 

The present state of the Chinese version was fully 
discussed, and the following resolution was passed 
unanimously : 

'' Resolved^ That it is desirable to have a version of 
the Sacred Scriptures translated into the Chinese lan- 
guage, better adapted for general circulation than any 
hitherto published. In regard to the New Testament, 
while the meeting readily acknowledge the superiori- 
ty of the latest over every former version, they would 
recommend that all that has been done be submitted 
to a committee for the purpose of being thoroughly re- 
vised, and that the same committee be instructed to 
prepare a version of the Old Testament in conform- 
ity with the above revised version of the New Testa- 
ment." 

At an adjourned meeting, held subsequently, pres- 
ent as before, with the exception of Messrs. Dean and 
Roberts, of the Baptist Board, whose places were sup- 
plied by Messrs. Shuck and Macgowan, it was 

Resolved, That any translation of the Scriptures into 
Chinese, issued with the approbation of the body of 
Protestant missionaries, be in exact conformity to the 
Hebrew and Greek originals in sense, and, so far as the 
idiom of the Chinese language will allow, in style and 
manner also. 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 229 

Resolved, That the Textus Eeceptus shall form the 
basis of the proposed revised version. 

Resolved, That the amounts of weights, measures, 
and pieces of money being ascertained, the same be 
translated by corresponding terms in Chinese. 

At the third meeting, present as before, it was re- 
solved, 

'' That the passages occurring in different places, 
but expressed in the same way in the original, be 
translated in a uniform manner, and that the spirit of 
this resolution be applied as far as possible in the case 
of individual terms. That no periphrasis be substi- 
tuted for the possessive pronoun when used in connec- 
tion with the name of God. 

" That the interchange of the noun and pronoun be 
allowed when deemed necessary by the translators. 

" That euphemisms in the originals be rendered by 
corresponding euphemisms in Chinese." 

At the fourth meeting, the same members present, 
it was 

" Resolved, That the subject of rendering the word 
f^anri^o) and its derivatives into Chinese be referred to 
a committee consisting of Messrs. Bridgman and Dean. 

^' That the rendering of the names of the Deity into 
Chinese be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. 
Medhurst and Legge. 

" That the rendering of Scripture names generally 
be referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. Med- 
hurst and Milne, with the assistance of Mr. J. R. Mor- 
rison, and that in the arrangement of sounds uniformi- 
ty and brevity be studied. 

" That the whole body of Protestant missionaries to 
the Chinese form a general committee for the purpose 
of revising the translation of the Scriptures in the 
Chinese language, and that this committee be subdi- 
vided into local committees of stations, each to con- 



230 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



sist of all the missionaries at that station — that the 
work of revision be subdivided and apportioned to the 
several stations. That when each local committee 
has completed its task, a transcript thereof shall be 
sent to each station for further revision, and then 
these transcripts, with the corrections upon them, shall 
be submitted to the original revisers. When the whole 
of the New Testament shall have been thus revised, 
each station shall select one or more of its most ex- 
perienced men to act as delegates in a meeting of the 
general committee, it being understood that each station 
will be entitled to one vote only, and these shall be 
the final judges as to the propriety of each revision, 
after which the whole shall be submitted to the Bible 
societies in Great Britain and America for their ac- 
ceptance." 

At the fifth meeting of the committee, same as be- 
fore present, with the addition of W. C. Lowrie, of the 
American Board of Foreign Missions, it was 

'' Resolved, That Mr. Medhurst be requested to act 
as secretary to the general committee. 

" That the Bible societies in England and America 
be requested to reimburse any reasonable expenditure 
which may be incurred by the brethren in making 
the revision. 

" That no portion of this revision shall be printed 
until finally revised by the committee of delegates, 
and not then, at the expense of the British and Foreign 
and American Bible Societies, until approved by them. 

" That the work of revision be divided into five por- 
tions, as follows : 

^' 1st. Acts and Hebrews to 2d Peter. 

" 2d. Mark and 1st and 2d Corinthians. 

" 3d. Matthew and Philippians to Philemon. 

" 4th. Luke, Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians. 

" 5th. John, Epistles of John, Jude, and Revelation." 



BIBLE IN THE CHINESE EMPIRE. 231 

At the sixth meeting, the committee appointed to 
report upon the proper mode of rendering the word 
Qa-nn^Gi stated that '' they were not prepared to recom- 
mend any one term to express it so as to harmonize 
the views of the Baptists and Psedo-Baptists," and 
hence the meeting resolved 

" That we proceed harmoniously in the work of re- 
vision, employing the talents of missionaries of hoth 
these sections of the Church to conduct it and to hring 
it to as perfect a state as possible ; that, when this is 
done, should difficulties still exist on this subject, 
each section shall be at liberty to recommend for pub- 
lication separate editions of the same version, agree- 
ing in all other respects, and only differing as to the 
rendering of this term ; and that the revision go forth 
to the world, not as the work of one party or of the 
other, but as Ihe result of the combined efforts of the 
whole." 

At the seventh and last meeting it was 

'' Resolved, That as it is difficult to decide upon the 
most appropriate word for expressing the name of God 
in Chinese, each station may for the present use such 
word as it shall prefer, leaving the ultimate decision 
to the general committee. 

'' Resolved, That the above resolutions be printed, 
and that authenticated copies, signed by the chairman 
and secretary, be sent to the Bible and missionary so- 
cieties of England and America." 

In the report of 1846, the intelligence was communi- 
cated that Chinese youth at Hong Kong were learn- 
ing the English language, and the board made a grant 
during the year of English Bibles for the use of schools 
in that place. 

Of the thousands of youth receiving Christian in- 
struction, many are just emerging into manhood, and 
are themselves becoming teachers to their benighted 



232 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

countrymen. This state of things encourages the fond 
hope that the day is not far distant when the millions 
of that long- lost empire will he saved hy the power of 
the Gospel of Christ, in the onward march of which 
pagan temples, and altars, and idol gods shall fade 
away as mist from the mountains when the sun hreaks 
across the threshold of the Eastern world. 

In 1847, the hoard made an appropriation of ten 
thousand dollars toward procuring and circulating, hy 
the American missionaries, the new version of the 
Scriptures ahout to he issued in China. This appro- 
priation will be paid in instalments, from time to time, 
as it is needed hy the missionaries. 

The British and Foreign Bible Society granted to 
the London Missionary Society one thousand pounds, 
for the purchase of a cylinder press for printing the 
new version. 

The time for realizing those things spoken of by Dr. 
Milne just before his death has already come to China. 
When asked by a friend, " What are you doing in 
China ?" he replied, " I have to tell you we are here 
standing and knocking at the gates of China, calling 
upon the emperor, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
to open the gates of his empire for the admission of the 
Gospel. To the above summons, the emperor's reply 
is, ^ No ! my gates are forever closed against you and 
your message !' While the emperor is setti'ng at de- 
fiance the mandates of our divine Master, the Prince 
of the kings of the earth, who shutteth and no man 
openeth, and who openeth and no man shutteth, and 
who has the keys of the gates of the nations of the 
earth at his girdle, is calling upon us to go on with 
our work — to continue knocking ; and if the Emperor 
of China will not open his gates, he says, 'I have a 
Key that will open them !' " 

Those gates are now open ; the Bible and mission- 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 2 33 

ary have free access to the population within these 
hitherto impassahle walls. The attention of almost 
every denomination in the Christian world is now 
turned to China; and the sixty missionaries on the 
ground, mastering its language and lahoring for its 
salvation, will receive re-enforcements from year to 
year, until that whole vast empire shall see the salva- 
tion of God. 

The difficulty which has existed from the beginning 
in resrard to the translation of the word answerino^ to 
the Deity still exists, and the Chinese version is there- 
fore not yet completed. 



CHAPTEK XXV. 

BIBLE IN INDIA AND INDO-CHINESE COUNTRIES. 

The ancient history of Hindostan, or India, accord- 
ing to the native annals, goes hack to a very remote 
antiquity, like that of China, and is equally absurd. 
The country was not known to Europe until the time 
of Alexander the Great. 

It contains one million one hundred thousand square 
miles of territory, and a population of one hundred and 
thirty millions. Of these about fifty thousand are of 
Em'opean descent. 

The Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, and British 
all have possessions in this country of greater or less 
extent. 

As a missionary field, it was among the number of 
the "nations from afar" that was visited when the 
apostles were " scattered abroad, and went every 
where preaching the Word." 

"WHien the Portuguese visited this country in the 
sixteenth century, they discovered certain traditions, 
and the existence of some monuments, that the Apos- 
tle " Thomas, one of the Twelve," had preached there ; 



234 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

and it was asserted that lie was murdered by some 
Brahmins who feared that his labors might eventually 
overthrow their idolatrous superstitions. This martyr- 
dom took place at Malabar, on the coast of Coroman- 
del. He was carried to Edessa, and there buried. This, 
if true, presents in a striking light the estimation in 
which that apostle held the commission of his Lord, to 
''go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every 
creature." It is also a living comment and testimony 
both of the nature and extent of that commission. 

But India is interesting to the philosopher as well 
as the Christian. Dr. Henry, in his " History of Phi- 
losophy," speaking of the origin of science, conveys 
the idea that, of all the nations of pagan antiquity, the 
philosophical conceptions of none appear to ascend an 
epoch so near the deluge as that of India, or to have 
risen to speculations so lofty, and infers therefrom 
that they were enlightened with the primitive the- 
ology handed down to them by oral tradition from the 
primeval world. 

Of China, Persia, and Egypt, he says, " They form, 
as it were, the three angles of a luminous triangle, 
within which the Oriental genius exerts its activity, 
and of which Chaldea and India occupy nearly the 
middle. Neither of these angles, in the actual state 
of our historical knowledge of the Oriental mind, pre- 
sents any traces of a philosophical development on a 
large scale. 

'' To find this, we must go to India. This magnifi- 
cent country, which extends through every degree of 
temperature, from the icy summits of the Himalaya 
to the burning seas of the Polynesia, has been the 
scene of a vast and long-continued philosophical con- 
flict, of which some monuments have already passed 
into the domain of European science." 

But we must not dwell upon speculations of this 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 



235 



character, however interesting they may be. Our busi- 
ness relates to facts in regard to the religious condition 
of India ; and in the narration of these facts, it will be 
seen that, whatever may be said of its primitive the- 
ology or philosophy, they neither " know the true 
God nor Jesus Christ whom he has sent," and that if 
they ever did, ''they glorified him not as God, but 
their foolish hearts became darkened, and they changed 
the glory of the incorruptible God into images, made 
like to corruptible man, and to bkds, and four-footed 
beasts, and creeping things, and changed the truth of 
God into a lie, and abandoned them^selves to lust, rage, 
revenge, polygamy, incest, and bestiality." Thus it 
is, and thus it ever has been, and will be, with all the 
philosophy of the world that has no God in it to purir 
fy its principles and direct its tendencies. 

Chin-India, or Indo China, as it is called, instead 
of Farther India, or India beyond the Ganges, lies be- 
tween China on the north and east, and Hindostan or 
India proper on the west. Its southern coast is wash- 
ed by the China Sea and the waters of the Straits of 
Malacca. It comprises Birmah, Cochin China, Ton- 
quin, Pegu, Cambodia, Laos, Siam, and the peninsula 
of Malacca. This interesting country once belonged 
to the Chinese, and the inhabitants in many important 
features resemble the Chinese. 

We had thought of assigning to this a separate ar^ 
tide ; but as there is such an identity of language and 
manners among the people, and in the operations of 
the Bible and missionary societies, with those of Chi- 
na and India proper, we concluded to embrace these 
operations under one head. In this portion of the 
Bible field there are some interesting points. Here is 
Birmah, where our Baptist brethren have been so long 
and faithfully laboring, the very name of which awak- 
ens a thousand hallowed associations in the minds of 



236 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

all who love the cause of Christ. Here, too, is Malac- 
ca, the Ophir of *che Old Testament, whose wedges of 
gold enriched and beautified the Temple of God at Je- 
rusalem, and whose principal sea-port contains the 
ashes of the lamented Milne, who, with the revered 
Morrison, of China, labored with untiring industry to 
open up the treasures of God's Word to four hund- 
red millions of our race. Here, in the city of Malacca, 
with its forty thousand inhabitants, was established 
the Anglo- Chinese college for the education of youth 
in the English language, and also of missionaries in 
the language and literature of China. 

Having made these preliminary remarks, we shall 
proceed to direct the reader's attention to the intro- 
duction of the Bible among these sin-ruined millions. 

The College of Fort William, at Bengal, called the 
Anglo-Hindoo College, was founded in 1800. During 
the first seven years of its existence it translated the 
Scriptures into five languages, and produced one hund- 
red volumes in Oriental literature. 

The first Protestant mission in India was founded 
by Ziegenbalg, at Tranquebar, a man of erudition and 
piety from the University of Halle. In 1719 he 
finished the translation of the Bible in the Tamul 
tongue, having devoted fourteen years to that work. 

At Calcutta and Serampore, Bible societies were 
instituted in 1811, at Bombay in 1813, and at Mad- 
ras in 1820. These institutions have been engaged 
zealously, efficiently, and perseveringly in translating, 
printing, and circulating the Scriptures in the various 
languages of India. 

In a report of the former of these societies in 1821, 
the secretary uses the following language : " Fearing 
lest even the sacred Scriptures might, by a profuse and 
inconsiderate distribution, be unprofitably consumed, 
I thought it expedient to warn our fellow-laborer, Mr. 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 



23 7 



Bowley, of the danger there was of throwing away 
our precious stores, and coming to an end of our edi- 
tions before the time. His answer was, ' Permit me 
to beg you to picture yourself in the midst of an an- 
nual Hindoo fair, as I was the .other day at Mirzapore, 
surrounded by forty thousand people, pent up literally 
so closely as to be unable to move by reason of the 
pressure of those heathens, soliciting for the words of 
eternal life, which were translated, printed, and sent 
you purposely for distribution among them — could you 
have refused those who could read and were importu- 
nate with you for them ?'" 

In 1822, the folio w^ing communication to the Man- 
agers of the American Bible Society from Drs. Carey 
and Marshman, was received : 

" Dear Brethren in Christ : Aware of the liberal 
principles on which your society is founded, and that 
it is by no means your wish to confine your endeav- 
ors to disseminate the sacred Scriptures to America 
alone, but, as much as in you lieth, to assist in giv- 
ing them to the whole family of man, we make the 
following appeal : The circumstances under which the 
work was begvm by our elder brother. Dr. Carey, twen- 
ty-six years ago, are not altogether unknown to you, 
nor the endeavors made by us as a united body, for 
nearly twenty years past, to give the Scriptures, in the 
various languages of India, as far as the Lord might 
enable us. In the accompanying memoir, you will 
perceive that the whole of the sacred Scriptures have 
been published in five of the languages of India ; the 
New Testament and certain parts of the Old in ten 
more ; and in six more the New Testament is brought 
more than half through the press ; in the remaining 
ten some one of the Gospels is printed, and in several 
all four of the Gospels. 

" The expense which has attended this work has 



23 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



been defrayed by the liberality of the public in Britain 
and America, among whom we feel eminently indebted 
to the generosity of the British and Foreign Bible Soci- 
ety. For the expense of printing the Old Testament 
in the few languages wherein it is now going forward, 
and that of printing further editions of the New Test- 
ament now in the press, we are constrained to appeal 
to the Christian public at large both in Britain and 
America." 

To assist in preparing new editions of the Scriptures 
in Sanscrit, Bengalee, Hindee, Mahratta, and Orissa, 
the board granted to the above-named gentlemen the 
sum of one thousand dollars. 

In the Report of the British and Foreign Bible So- 
ciety for 1828, it is stated that the societies at Madras 
and Bombay had distributed, since their organization, 
thirty thousand copies of Bibles and Testaments in 
thirty of the tongues of India, among which were the 
Anglo-Chinese, the Tamul, Goojurattu, Cingalese, and 
Pali languages, the latter of which is the language of 
the literati of the Burman Empire. At Singapore, 
Malacca, the Bible was distributed among the Chi- 
nese junks in the harbor. 

In 1829, the board granted one thousand two hund- 
red dollars toward printing Judson's translation of 
the New Testament in the Burman language. 

The publication of the Scriptures in this language 
opened up the word of life and salvation to a popula- 
tion of seventeen millions in that empire. 

In 1832, a communication was received from the 
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- 
sions, presenting the claims of India to the society, and 
an appropriation was made of five thousand dollars to 
aid in printing the Mahratta Scriptures at Bombay, 
and also five thousand dollars toward printing the 
Scriptures in the Burman tongue. 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 239 

In relation to the operations of the Bible cause in 
India in 1833, the managers state that the whole of 
the New Testament, with the Pentateuch and Psalms 
of the Old, have been translated into the Mahratta 
language by the American missionaries. The ver- 
sions were made from the originals. Most of the cop- 
ies of the Book of Genesis and of the New Testament 
which had been printed were put in circulation. Other 
versions of parts of the Bible, under the patronage of the 
Church Missionary Society, were printed at Bombay. 

The versions of our missionaries were made to con- 
form to our English version, in being literal and not 
free translations of the Word of God. 

Mr. Graves, one of the missionaries of the American 
Board,, stated, while on a visit to this country, that* 
about one in forty of the Mahratta people were able 
to read ; hence the number of those who could read 
was not far from four hundred thousand. 

In 1834, the board granted to the American mis- 
sionaries at Bombay, to aid in printing the Mahratta 
Scriptures, three thousand dollars. 

To the mission station in the Burman Empire, for 
printing the Burman Scriptures, five thousand dollars. 

The following extracts from a communication to the 
board will show the progress made in the work of dis- 
tribution. 

The letter contains the following interesting items : 
The demand for the Scriptures at Bombay was on the 
increase. Copies were distributed in Hindoostanee 
and Persian among the Mussiilmans. The Book of 
Exodus, prepared by Mr. Graves, had been lithograph- 
ed, mostly at the expense of the board. The demand 
for these by the Jews was great. 

An edition of Leviticus was also in preparation. 
Mohammedans, Jews, and Mahrattas were all receiv- 
ing the Word of Life. 



240 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

The Mahrattas numbered about twelve millionSj and 
to supply them with the Word of God there were only 
eleven missionaries in the field. 

Schools were multiplying in the country, and thou- 
sands of youth were yearly sent out into active life 
who had been taught to read the Bible. 

From Birmah cheering intelligence was received 
of the progress of the work of printing and circulating 
the Scriptures. The Baptist Board at Maulmein had 
printed the first edition of three thousand copies of the 
New Testament in the Burman language, and, so ur- 
gent were the demands for them, another edition was 
contemplated. 

A very interesting account of the Rev. Mr. Kincaid's 
voyage up the Irrawaddy Eiver, from Rangoon to Ava, 
describes the people as willing every where to read 
the '' Sacred Book." 

To the Western Foreign Missionary Society at Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania, there was made a grant, in 1835, 
of five hundred dollars, to be expended by their mis- 
sionaries in circulating the Scriptures in Northern In- 
dia, in the province of Lahore. 

For the circulation of the Scriptures among the Bap- 
tist missions in the Burman Empire, a grant of seven 
thousand dollars was made during the year. 

The Secretary of the Baptist Board stated that, in 
addition to the printing of the New Testament, the Old 
Testament would soon be in a course of publication. 

They had it in contemplation to send out a fifth 
press, that copies of the Bible might more rapidly be 
multiplied. 

In the year 1836, a box of Bibles and Testaments 
was sent, through Mr. Medhurst, to Singapore, for dis- 
tribution among the seamen, vast numbers of whom, 
from almost all countries, visit this port. 

During the year the following appropriations were 
made: 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 241 

To the Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, for circu- 
lating the Orissa Scriptures in India, by the Rev. Mr. 
Sutton and associates, one thousand dollars. 

To the same for Burmese Scriptures, five thousand 
dollars. 

To the Western Foreign Missionary Society, toward 
circulating the Scriptures in Northern India, one thou- 
sand dollars. 

To the American Board of Commissioners for For- 
eign Missions, for Siamese and other Scriptures in 
Siam, two thousand dollars. 

To the same for Malay, Siamese, and other Scrip- 
tures at Singapore, seven thousand fiye hundred dol- 
lars. 

To the same for Mongolian Scriptures, one thousand 
two hundred dollars. 

From the Rev. Amos Sutton and his associates. Bap- 
tist missionaries at Orissa, to whom a grant had been 
made, the board received the following communica- 
tion in 1837 : 

"I need not tell you how much the life-giving 
Word is needed in this land of darkness and the shad- 
ow of death. I have just returned from the annual 
festival of Juggernaut, distant from Cuttuck about 
fifty miles, and, though it was the thinnest attend- 
ance of any festival I have seen of a similar kind, 
yet there was probably not less than one hundred 
thousand immortal beings prostrated before that bloody 
Moloch. But we had not a single Gospel to bestow 
upon them — nothing of the Scriptures but a few bound 
Testaments, and a collection of certain passages from 
the whole Bible printed as extracts. I labored hard 
to get an edition of Matthew printed off in time, but 
was prevented by sickness and loss of types from ac- 
complishing it. I leave it with your committee to de- 
termine, when looking over the waste places of the 

Q 



242 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

earth, if Orissa does not demand their sympathy and 
aid." 

In 1838, the board received from the Rev. Messrs. 
Scudder and Winslow, missionaries at Madras, in rela- 
tion to the preparation and circulation of the Scrip- 
tures in the Tamul language, the following : "Do you 
ask as to the probable number of families in the dis- 
trict, whose language we speak, in which the Word 
of God can be read ? We answer, five hundred thou- 
sand. Will the American Bible Society not come to 
the resolution that they will supply these thousands 
of families in the Tamul district who can read with 
at least a New Testament or single Gospel ? We say 
nothing of those who speak the Zeloogoo language, 
whose wants are even greater than those of the Tamul 
people. We are now pursuing the study of their lan- 
guage, and hope soon to be able to communicate with 
them through it. The Madras mission was com- 
menced with the expectation of having a large print- 
ing establishment connected with it, and something 
like an agency for the American Bible Society, to af- 
ford them the means of furnishing, to some extent, the 
Tamul and Zeloogoo population of this peninsula with 
the Word of Life. Can not you give us twenty, ten, 
or five thousand dollars a year for Southern India ?" 

In 1839, a correspondent of the board communicates 
the intelligence that during the year the Mahratta 
Scriptures entire would be brought into that language. 

At Madras, a communication from one of the mis- 
sionaries there states that, '' as to the inhabitants be- 
ing converted through the instrumentality of the oral 
A¥ord, it is quite out of the question. They can not 
be reached in any great numbers in this way, for there 
are not men to do it. In all the tours I have taken 
since I came to Madras, I have not found a single mis- 
sionary. It appears to me that the American Bible 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 243 

Society, in conjunction with the British and Foreign 
Bible Society, can supply all the calls made by those 
who can and will distribute. I shall soon leave Mad- 
ras with fourteen thousand portions of the Scriptures, 
and shall be absent about two months in distributing 
them." 

To meet, in part, the above call, the board appro- 
priated four thousand dollars. 

The prospects for Bible distribution in Madras, in 
1840, were quite encouraging. A communication 
made to the board during the year states that " the 
land, in its length and breadth, is open for the distribu- 
tion of the Bible. Viewed in all its bearings, there is 
no place in any part of the world, embracing a popu- 
lation of seventy-five millions, which affords greatet 
facilities for the distribution of the Word than India. 
The government is favorable, and there is no place to 
which we go with this precious volume where the 
people do not come in crowds to obtain it. 

" Exclusive of our distributions in the city, we have 
given away on our tours, in little more than a year, 
twenty-five thousand portions of the Bible. The Mad- 
ras Bible Society have asked of the British and For- 
eign Bible Society five thousand pounds a year. We 
have asked, and still ask of your board, twenty thou- 
sand dollars a year to begin with." 

A further request was made in the course of the 
year from the Madura mission, which received supplies 
through the mission at Madras. 

At Madura it is customary for the people to hold 
bazars or fairs regularly, in difierent places, within a 
circumference of twenty miles, on every day of the 
week. This is common throughout the district. 
These bazars are visited by distributers, and the num- 
ber of copies of the Scriptures circulated by them is 
very large. 



244 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

In 1841, for purchasing Scriptures printed at Mad- 
ras, for distribution at Madura, and employing native 
converts to distribute them, the board sent two thou- 
sand dollars. 

For the station at Madras was granted, during the 
year, six thousand dollars. 

A communication from a gentleman at Bombay 
states that the population of that city is over three 
hundred thousand, among which are many Jews, Per- 
sians, and other nations, and as each retains its orig- 
inal language, the prejudice of caste tends to perpetu- 
ate them, by preventing social intercourse. - 

The Mahratta language is more generally used than 
any other, and, though the Bombay Bible Society, 
which is auxiliary to the British and Foreign, pos- 
sesses the Scriptures in the Hebrew and Parsee, yet 
the obstacles in the way of their circulation are great, 
and somewhat difficult to be overcome. The Jews, 
however, will take the Old Testament, and sometimes 
the New, and read them. The Goojurattee is used by 
a large body of the inhabitants, and to this class the 
Parsees belong, who follow the religion of Zoroaster. 
The priests of this faith made preparation for printing 
a translation of Paine's Age of Reason, for the purpose 
of overthrowing the Christian religion, some of their 
followers having embraced it, but it was abandoned. 
Soon after, a work was published, having the same 
ostensible purpose, entitled ^' The Doctrine of Zoroas- 
ter." It was prepared by a Parsee priest, consisting 
chiefly of extracts from the Scriptures, with sneers and 
caviling remarks thereon, and selections from Voltaire. 

The great extension of British power acquired by 
the government in countries lying between India and 
Persia opened up new and large provinces for the cir- 
culation of the Scriptures. 

In 1842, the board granted a supply of Bibles and 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 245 

Testaments in the English tongue, for the use of those 
learning that language at Madras. The demand for 
these Scriptures in the schools of Madura and Madras, 
and for East Indians, was represented as very great. 

To the mission of the Presbyterian Board for Foreign 
Missions was granted the sum of two thousand dol- 
lars for publishing the Scriptures in Northern India. 
A letter from the secretary of the board, Walter Lowrie, 
EiSq., shows the importance of this grant : 

" Our printing presses in India are now double what 
they were last year, and the demand for the Scriptures 
is beyond any thing those presses can supply, even if 
constantly employed. Whatever sum you can spare 
for this field, we would at once invest in paper, and 
try to furnish the means for the printing and binding 
from our own funds. The paper we wish to send by 
the first ship to Calcutta. Thus I have given you the 
facts in relation to printing and distributing the Bible 
in Northern India." 

To the Rev. Mr. Sutton, of the Baptist mission at 
Orissa, was sent one hundred dollars, in part to be 
used in circulating portions of the Old Testament. 

In 1843, to the Board of Missions of the Presby- 
terian Church, on the request of Walter Lowrie, Esq., 
were granted four hundred Bibles and Testaments for 
the use of the government schools in Northern India, 
and also for those who are learning the English lan- 
guage. 

The board authorized the Rev. Mr. Winslow, of 
Madras, to furnish two hundred dollars worth of Tamul 
Scriptures to the Rev. Mr. Heyer, a missionary of the 
Lutheran Church of the United States, resident in 
India. 

To the Presbyterian Board, to aid in the publication 
of the Scriptures at Lodiana, Northern India, was 
granted the sum of three thousand dollars. 



246 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

The board was favored with samples of the Scrip- 
tures published at their expense, and were highly 
satisfied with the manner of their execution. 

To the mission station at Madras a grant was made 
of three thousand dollars, for the preparation and dis- 
tribution of the Scriptures in the southern part of 
India. 

To the station at Madura, for the same purpose, the 
board sent fiye hundred dollars. 

In 1844, to Bombay, to aid in the circulation of the 
Scriptures, were granted one thousand dollars. 

A communication from Mr. Hume to the secretary 
of the Bombay Bible Society, in regard to the work 
of distribution, contains many interesting facts. 

To Hindoos, Mussulmans, and Jews in Bombay the 
Word of Life is distributed with interesting results, par- 
ticularly to the Jews, who, though they read with 
the veil upon their hearts, are yet disposed to inquire 
after truth. 

He had made a tour to Goa, and passed through 
the whole southern Concan, and, though he expected 
opposition from the priests, yet the New Testament 
was eagerly sought by the ecclesiastics, by persons 
connected with the government, and others. The 
whole Bible was often asked for, but, as he had none 
in Portuguese, he could not supply the demand. 

In few portions of the heathen world was there so 
large a proportion of intelligent readers as in the 
Southern Concan. The Brahminical class was very 
numerous, and were generally educated. 

In Goa the majority speak the Portuguese, and a 
considerable number a corrupted Mahratta. Goa is 
the residence of the Roman Catholic archbishop, who 
has jurisdiction of the Roman Catholics in that part 
of the world. 

Buchanan, in 1808, speaking of Goa, says, " The 



BIBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 247 

magnificence of the churches of Goa far exceeds any 
idea I had formed from the previous description. Goa 
is properly a city of chm'ches, and the wealth of 
provinces seems to have been expended in their erec- 
tion. The ancient specimens of architecture in this 
place far excel any thing that has been attempted in 
modern times in any other part of the East, both in 
grandeur and taste. The Cathedral of Goa is wor- 
thy of one of the principal cities of Europe. In this, 
mass is celebrated by some twenty or thirty priests, 
but there are none others present to witness the per- 
formance — ^the priests themselves are the congrega- 
tion. Soon all the magnificence of Goa will have 
passed away. The convents, once filled with eccle- 
siastics, will soon be heaps of ruins ; the external 
pomp and magnificence, the remains of which are still 
visible, were, doubtless, well fitted to make an impres- 
sion upon an ignorant people, but the spirit of true 
Christianity was a stranger here." 

Mr. Hume remarks : "While standing on the ruins 
of the dreadful Inquisition, and smTounded by the fast- 
decaying monuments of popish power and superstition, 
I rejoiced that the decay of these things seemed ap- 
parently to be preparing the way for the free progress 
of the Gospel. The fear of the holy Inquisition can 
not now, as formerly, restrain the people from receiv- 
ing and perusing the Word of God." 

There is much intercourse between Bombay and 
Goa, which facilitates the distribution of the Bible 
there. 

To the missionaries at Siam, to aid the pubUcation 
of the Scriptures in that region, the board remitted one 
thousand dollars. In the Siamese language, the Rev. 
Mr. Robinson says, that, '' in addition to the publica- 
tion of one edition of Genesis, the Gospel and three 
epistles of John, the Acts of the Apostles, and the 



248 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Epistle to the Colossians, and two editions of the G-os- 
pel of St. Mark, the Books of Daniel and Exodus, and 
all the Gospels, are ready for the press. They had in- 
troduced in printing the division of the words and the 
marks of punctuation, with which the Siamese are 
well pleased." 

Parts of the Bihle were also translated into other 
Indo-Chinese languages. 

To the station at Madras, to he expended, under the 
direction of the Rev. Mr. Winslow, in circulating the 
Tamul and Zeloogoo Scriptures, and also to the station 
at Madura, were granted, to the former one thousand, 
and to the latter five hundred dollars. 

In 1847, for printing and circulating the Mahratta 
Scriptiu'es, one thousand dollars were granted to the 
American Board of Foreign Missions. 

For puhlishing the same in Northern India, under 
the care of the Preshyterian Board of Foreign Missions, 
a grant of fiYQ thousand dollars was made. 

For the further puhlication of the Scriptures at Mad- 
ras, the same hoard was granted two thousand dollars. 

A still further grant of one thousand dollars was 
solicited, so urgent were the appeals for the Scriptures 
among the millions of India. 

We shall close our article hy an extract from a com- 
munication to the hoard in relation to the condition 
of the inhahitants of the cities of India: "In Bomhay, 
as in most of the cities of India, where many persons 
are acquiring a knowledge of the English language 
and of European literature, there is much skepticism 
in respect to religion of every kind. This class of per- 
sons practice their own religious rites and ceremonies 
just enough to keep themselves within the rules of 
caste. Their feelings are those of indifference toward 
those systems of religion which allow every man to 
live much as he pleases, or which teach that every 



±5IBLE IN INDIA, ETC. 249 

man should continue in the religion in which he was 
horn, and then all will he well with him in the future 
world. They hate Christianity hecause of its exclusive 
and aggressive character, which requhes all, whoever 
they may he, and whatever may have heen their faith 
and practice, to receive its doctrines and ohey its pre- 
cepts. The native papers and magazines, of which 
there are several in Bomhay, contain much that is 
aimed directly or indirectly, according as they think 
it will produce the greatest effect, against the Scrip- 
tures. The editors of such papers are generally well 
acquainted with the works of infidel authors which 
have heen puhlished in Christian countries. They 
have sometimes heen at much expense to procure 
such hooks from Europe. Prohahly no English works 
are read more among the native population than those 
of this character." 

Thus it will he seen that the enemy is also in pos- 
session of that mighty engine for good or ill, the press, 
and is perverting it in diffusing an infidel theology 
and a corrupt literature. 

The board received very recently a complete copy 
of the Koran in the Arabic tongue, the first ever 
printed in India. Several zealous Mohammedans, 
provoked by the efforts of the Bible Society in furnish- 
ing the Holy Scriptures for those followers of the false 
prophet who were willing to receive and read them, 
and fearing that the Koran would become a dead letter, 
and Islamism lose its power over them, organized a 
Koran Society, for the purpose of printing, for gratuitous 
circulation, the Bible of Mohammed among the sixty 
thousand Mohammedans of Bombay, and for those of 
Arabia and Persia. So mightily does the Word of 
God grow and prevail, that old exploded systems of 
error, like galvanized dead bodies, begin to writhe and 
show signs of life. It is only, however, that they may 



250 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

relapse again into that sleep from whence there will 
he no awaking, for the " Word has gone forth, and it 
shall not return void," but prove " the power of God 
unto salvation to every one that helieveth." 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



BIBLE IN CEYLON. 



The island of Ceylon lies near the equator in the 
Indian Ocean. It contains near twenty thousand 
square miles, and has a population of two millions. 
It was taken possession of hy the Portuguese in the 
sixteenth century, who were subsequently displaced 
by the Dutch, and they, in turn, by the British, to 
whom it was formally ceded in 1795. The native in- 
habitants are divided into Weddas, a rude people liv- 
ing in the interior of the forests, and the Cingalese, 
who had attained a certain degree of civilization. 
The Cingalese are divided, like the Hindoos, into 
castes, and are of the religion of Buddha. 

Efforts to convert it to Christianity were early made 
by the different religious denominations, and if St. 
Jerome is to be believed, Ceylon, like Hither India, 
has been made sacred by the visit of one of the twelve 
apostles of our Lord. 

It is not our work to treat of it as a missionary field 
only so far as the missionary cause is identified with 
that of the Bible, and we confess, in the language of 
one, "All other means for saving sinners, compared 
with the circulation of the Bible, are like stars and 
moons deriving all their light from this." 

In this connection, we ask the indulgence of the 
reader while we give a few items of historical informa- 



BIBLE IN CEYLON. 251 

tion in regard to the introduction of Christianity in 
the island. 

It is said that Francis Xavier, a Roman Catholic 
priest, visited the island and preached with some suc- 
cess. Whether Romanism were estahlished hy him 
or not in the sixteenth century is a matter of specula- 
tion, hut that Romanism was there when the first 
Protestant missionaries visited it is heyond question, 
unless, perhaps, we except the Dutch, who, at the 
commencement of the seventeenth century, wrested 
the island from the crown of Portugal, and attempted 
to convert the natives to the Protestant faith. Unfor- 
tunately, however, they induced the Cingalese to he- 
come hypocrites rather than Christians, hy ahsurdly 
ordaining that no native should he admitted to any 
employment under the government unless he suh- 
scrihed the Helvetic Confession and hecame a mem- 
her of the Reformed Church. All who aspired after 
dignity or office professed their readiness to change 
their religion; and as nothing more was required of the 
candidates for haptism than a repetition of the Lord's 
Prayer, the Ten Commandments, a short morning and 
evening prayer, and a grace hefore and after meat, 
they flocked in such numhers to the font, that in the 
year 1663, in the district of Jaffnapatam alone, there 
were, according to the Church registers, sixty-two 
thousand five hundred and fifty-eight men and women 
who professed Christianity, hesides two thousand five 
hundred and eighty-seven slaves ; and the children 
who had heen haptized within a few years amounted 
to twelve thousand three hundred and eighty-seven. 

In the year 1740, the Moravians sent two mission- 
aries to Ceylon. On their arrival at Colomho they 
were received hy the governor with great kindness, 
and every facility afforded them for prosecuting the 
ohjects of their mission. Shortly after, however, an- 



252 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



other governor succeeded '' who knew not Joseph," 
and, on account of slanders propagated against them, 
they were ordered from the island. Their lahors, 
though short, were not without fruit ; a distinguished 
surgeon was converted to God through their instru- 
mentality, who was left as a living epistle of the truth 
of Christianity. 

In 1813, the Eev. Dr. Coke, of the Wesleyan Meth- 
odist Church in England, whose mind had heen long 
and deeply impressed with the importance of a mis- 
sion to Ceylon, and who proposed to the Conference to 
defray all the expenses of the first missionaries, under 
the sanction and direction of the Conference, set out, 
with Messrs. Harvard, Clough, Ault, Erskine, Squance, 
and Lynch, for the island, for the purpose of establish- 
ing a mission. It will he recollected that, by an in- 
scrutable Providence, the rationale of which we can 
not now know, the doctor died on the passage, and 
was buried in the Indian Ocean. The remainder 
reached the island in safety, were kindly received by 
the missionaries and dignitaries of government, and at 
once entered upon their work, which from time to 
time has been crowned with success. To them must 
be awarded the honor of having established the first 
Sunday school in Ceylon. 

In 1815, the Prudential Committee of the American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions sent out 
the following missionaries : the Rev. Messrs. Richards, 
Warren, Poor, Meigs, and Bardwell. Their voyage 
was prosperous in every respect. On their arrival at 
Colombo they were received by the governor and mis- 
sionaries from England with every expression of re- 
spect, and every facility afforded them for the further- 
ance of the objects of their mission. In the educa- 
tional department, this mission has perhaps accom- 
plished more than any other denomination. They es- 



BIBLE IN CEYLON. 953 

tablished a college at Batticotta for the education of 
pious young natives for the ministry, and to act as 
teachers in the schools of the island. 

The English Baptists have also a mission with two 
stations, one at Colombo, the capital, and another at 
Han well. 

As a Bible field, Ceylon presents a rich variety of 
facts, fruitful and fragrant as her savannas and mount- 
ains, and grateful to every lover of the cause of Christ. 

A Bible Society was instituted at Colombo, auxiliary 
to the British and Foreign Bible Society, in 1812. 

At JaiSfna, also, a Bible Society was organized dur- 
ing the same year. 

The first notice we have of this field, in connection 
with the operations of the American Bible Society, is 
found in the Report of 1823, when the board made a 
donation of five hundred dollars to the Board of Com- 
missioners for Foreign Missions in the island of Cey- 
lon, to be employed by them in purchasing Scriptures 
in the Tamul language for distribution. 

About this time the Old Testament, under the direc- 
tion of the Colombo Bible Society, was translated into 
the Cingalese language, assisted by missionaries of 
the Episcopal, Baptist, and Methodist Churches. 

The memorial of the missionaries represented the Ta- 
mul language as spoken by the inhabitants of the north- 
ern part of the island, from Batticaloe to Jaffhapatan. 
It w^as supposed that three hundred thousand spoke 
that language in the island. The Scriptures having 
already been translated into that language by Danish 
missionaries in 1715, and since then eight or ten edi- 
tions having been published, they could readily be pro- 
cured by the missionaries at Tranquebar and Colombo. 

In 1829, a communication was received from Amer- 
ican missionaries at Ceylon, representing the great de- 
mand for the Scriptures, and the great facilities pos- 



254 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



sessed by them for their distribution, and asking for 
more aid, which was responded to by sending a dona- 
tion of five hundred dollars more. 

In 1831, to the same missionaries were sent the sum 
of six hundred dollars, to aid in the work of printing 
and distributing the Tamul Scriptures. 

In 1833, to the same mission was sent one hundred 
English Bibles for the use of pupils in the schools at 
Jaffna. 

From the ^' Prudential Committee" of the American 
Board for Foreign Missions the managers received a 
communication in relation to the facilities and pros- 
pects for circulating the Scriptures. In regard to Jaff"- 
na station, they say the mission is established in the 
center of a population of two hundred thousand who 
speak the Tamul language, and near the Coromandel 
coast, where the same tongue is spoken by eight or 
nine millions. They propose sending out a printing 
establishment for the purpose of printing the Scrip- 
tures on the island. The demands for the Scriptures 
were such that they ought to have at least ten thou- 
sand copies of the New Testament for immediate cir- 
culation. 

A grant of two thousand dollars was made by the 
board to the missionaries above named to assist them 
in the work of supplying the destitute with the Scrip- 
tures. 

Letters were received from the missionaries in 1835, 
asking for printing paper, or means to procure it, for 
the purpose of publishing the Tamul Scriptures. 

From one of these communications the following- 
extract is taken : 

'' There are probably between four and five thou- 
sand children under Christian instruction in the schools 
of the different missionary establishments in the dis- 
trict, a good proportion of whom are able to read. It 



BIBLE IN CEYLON. 



255 



is important that these schools should he furnished 
with a supply of the Grospels, not only for the purpose 
of training the children to read the printed character, 
hut more especially to imhue their tender minds with 
scriptural truth, with the hope that, hy the Divine 
hlessing, they may he preserved from the pernicious 
and contaminating influence of heathenism under 
which most of the adult population is so powerfully 
held. To supply each school with ten hooks, which 
can not he considered a great numher, would proha- 
hly require more than a thousand copies. They were 
also anxious to furnish youth on leaving the schools 
a portion of Holy Writ." In view of these demands, 
the hoard made a grant of six thousand dollars, to en- 
ahle them to print and circulate the Scriptures in 
Ceylon. 

In 1837, to the American Board was granted two 
thousand dollars, to aid in distrihution. 

The following year a supply of Bihles and Testa- 
ments were sent for the use of the schools. 

Communications were received in 1839 and 1840 
for additional aid, hy way of Bihles and Testaments, 
for the use of those learning the English language, 
and also for money to enahle the missionaries to print 
and circulate the Tamul and Cingalese Scriptures. 

The Report of the Jaffna Bihle Society for the latter 
year shows that there had heen printed for the society 
at Manepy five thousand copies of the Book of Gene- 
sis and the first twenty chapters of Exodus, fifteen 
thousand copies of the Psalms, five thousand copies 
of which had heen sold to the American mission on 
hehalf of the American Bihle Society. The following 
portions had heen carried through the press : Acts of 
the Apostles, Proverhs, Epistles of Timothy, James, 
and John, Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, making in 
all seventy thousand copies. 



256 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



In the year 1841, for preparing the Tamul Scrip- 
tures, the board made a grant of four thousand dollars 
to the American Board of Missions. 

Also to the same, the following year, two thousand 
dollars. 

To the Rev. Mr. Johnston, an English Episcopal 
missionary, was granted ^ye hundred Bibles and Test- 
aments. 

In alluding to the Tamul Scriptures, he says, ''The 
copy of Genesis, as revised, has been disseminated 
through the island, and also through the southern 
part of India, for the opinions and suggestions of the 
Tamul writers. We trust in this way to secure as 
near an approximation to a good translation as may, 
in this early state of things, be reasonably hoped 
for; and, above all, we especially hope, by the favor of 
our Master upon us, to avoid the use of diverse edi- 
tions of the Holy Scriptures, which in infant churches 
can not but be hurtful. We desire to give the Tamul 
people the Word of God pure — genuine. The num- 
ber of persons who can now read English is vastly in- 
creased, and the extreme desire felt by all persons, 
whatever the other castes may be, to learn English, is 
greatly in favor of our missionary operations. But it 
will be obvious to all, that in the study of the English, 
as well as any thing else, the Bible should be the 
text-book. Now w^e are not able to do this. We 
have not a copy of the whole Bible in our Depository, 
and cries from Madura and other parts of the island 
are sounding in our ears for want of them. The grant 
for which we ask is designed for the mission at Madura 
as well as that of Jaffna." 

The board granted, in 1844, to Ceylon, the sum of 
three thousand dollars, to aid the missionaries in their 
work, the American and English cordially co-operat- 
ing in the Jaffna Bible Society. 



BIBLE IN AFRICA. 



257 



In 1846, a supply of English Bibles and Testaments 
was sent to Ceylon, for the use of the schools in that 
island connected with the missions. It is an interest- 
ing fact, and one full of cheering promise, that thou- 
sands upon thousands of heathen youth, in all parts 
of the pagan world, through the agency of the society, 
are annually becoming acquainted with the English 
language through the reading and study of the En- 
glish Bible. 

The following year, so increasing were the demands 
for the English Scriptures, the board sent five hund- 
red Bibles to the Jaffna Bible Society for the use of 
native youth ; a still larger grant was also received 
from the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

During the year 1848, for publishing a new edition » 
of the Scriptures in the Tamul language, the board sent 
one thousand dollars. 

Through the influence of the Bible and the mission- 
ary, this beautiful island has been made to bud and 
blossom with the fruits of righteousness. Its desert 
mountains, cinnamon groves, and flowery plains ''have 
been made glad for them." The word of God has not 
returned void, but it has accomplished that for which 
it was sent by its Divine Author, 



CHAPTER XXVII. 

BIBLE IN AFRICA. 



This immense country, stretching through eighty 
degrees of longitude, and embracing seventy degrees 
of latitude, forming a vast triangular peninsula, and 
containing a population of fifty-seven millions, is in a 
more wretched and helpless condition than any other 
country in. the world. It was once the seat of the 

R 



258 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

most powerful empire, the center of learning and the 
arts, and from its shores Egyptian colonies, in the most 
remote times, carried to savage Europe the germs of 
civilization. Until recently, Christianity never suc- 
ceeded in shedding its light upon the west, the cen- 
ter, and the south of Africa. The fanatic Arah, mount- 
ed on his fleet dromedary, flew to plant the standard 
of the false prophet on the hanks of the Senegal and 
the shores of Sofala, and now, from Zanguehar to the 
Mediterranean, and from the Red Sea to the Desert 
coast, Mohammedanism holds its sway. 

The Bible, and with it Christianity, were introduced 
into Africa at a very early period in the history of the 
Christian Church. When the nations of the world 
were assembled at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, 
Egypt and Abyssinia were represented. The Ethiop- 
ian eunuch, an officer of the court of Queen Candace, 
was there, and, returning in his chariot, reading the 
prophecy of Isaiah in relation to the sufferings of Christy 
was instructed by Philip, who '' preached to him Je- 
sus," and, believing on Christ with all his heart, he 
was converted and baptized, and went to his distant 
home rejoicing in the salvation of the Gospel. On his 
return the Abyssinian Church was established, which 
exists to the present day. 

The first translation of the Bible was made into He- 
brew-Greek in Egypt in the reign of Ptolemy Phila- 
delphus, from whence it was copied from time to time, 
and circulated throughout Southern Europe and West- 
ern Asia among the synagogues of the Jews, and thus 
it was the only book that survived the torch of the 
ruthless Saracen when the Alexandrian library was 
destroyed. Perhaps it was the only one worthy of 
preservation. Of one thing we are quite certain, and 
that is, that the Holy Scriptures are worth all the 
Alexandrian libraries in the world. 



BIBLE IN AFRICA. 259 

From the Reports of the British and Foreign Bi- 
ble Society, we have information of the formation of 
Bible societies in Africa, at Sierra Leone, the Cape 
of Good Hope, and Abyssinia, as early as 1820. These 
were all auxiliary to the above-named institution. 
The Scriptures were translated into the Amhario lan- 
guage for the use of the Abyssinians. 

In 1821, the Sierra Leone Bible Society distributed 
nearly two thousand Gospels in the Bullom and En- 
glish languages. 

In one town among the Hottentots, in South Africa, 
more than one hundred of this people had been taught 
to read the Bible. Instances were known of their 
coming from fifty to one hundred miles to get a copy 
of the Scriptures. 

In 1825, Dr. Philip communicated to the British 
and Foreign Bible Society some interesting facts in 
relation to the languages of Africa. The discoveries 
which had been made led to the belief that all the 
languages spoken, from Kieskamma to the Arabian 
Gulf, and from the mouth of the Zembeze to that of 
Congo, were derived from the parent stock, and so 
nearly allied to each other that there would be no dif- 
ficulty in translating the Scriptures for the use of this 
vast field. 

The foundation of a temple, in which all the nu- 
merous dialects of the Bootchua,na language would 
be consecrated to the service of the living God, was 
laid, and the numerous tribes might repair to this tem- 
ple and receive the light of salvation. 

The Bible in Ethiopic, Coptic, and Arabic had been 
translated by the British and Foreign Bible Society, 
and thousands of copies were annually distributed at 
various points. 

In 1829, the American Bible Society granted to the 
colony of Liberia four hundred and fifty Bibles and 



2(30 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Testaments. It had previously sent Bibles to this 
colony, and several fine copies as presents to neighbor- 
ing African kings. 

Bibles were sent during this year to the island of 
Madagascar; and in 1833, the Old Testament was 
translated into the Madagasse, the language of that 
island, the New having already been issued from the 
press. 

A supply of Bibles and Testaments was sent the 
following year, through Messrs. Landers, to Central 
Africa, by the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

In 1837, a letter from a Wesley an missionary at 
Cape Town communicates the following in relation to 
the circulation of the Scriptures in the schools of the 
country : '' Our schools at Cape Town, Simon's Town, 
Wynberg, Hottentot's Holland, Little Namaqua-land, 
and the Great Namaqua mission beyond the Orange 
River, have all been supplied. In these various schools 
there are scholars from six to sixty years of age, per- 
sons of almost every color, and of every expression of 
countenance. What a blessing for them to possess 
that holy Book, from which they learn that its Author 
is the Father of the spirits of all flesh ! Part of the 
supply had been sent to the prisons and among the 
convicts on the public roads ; poor widows have also 
shared the bounty, and other sons and daughters of 
affliction. Many of the slaves (now apprentices) have 
received the Testaments with gladness, and several 
of the colored boys and girls are now reading the 
words of eternal life." 

In 1838, the Rev. Dr. Philip and the Rev. Mr. Read, 
who had been a missionary in Africa seventeen years, 
visited London, accompanied by a Christian Caffre 
chief and a Christian Hottentot. 

The following extracts from the addresses of the 
Caffre and Hottentot will show the importance of Bi- 
ble distribution among the heathen: 



BIBLE IN AFRICA. 261 

" When the Word of God," said the CafFre, '' caine 
among us, we were like the wild beasts ; w^e knew 
nothing ; we were so wild that there was nothing but 
war and bloodshed. Every one was against his neigh- 
bor ; there was no confidence between man and man, 
and each man tried to destroy his brother. The Word 
of God has tm-ned us ; the Bible has brought peace, 
has reconciled one man to another, and in us is ful- 
filled the text of Scripture, ' The wolf shall dwell with 
the lamb.' I thank the English nation for what we 
have received." 

The Hottentot said, "I will not dwell upon what 
we were before, but I will tell you what the Bible has 
done for us. There are three gentlemen in this coun- 
try who are witnesses to what Africans were, Dr. Phil-^ 
ip, Mr. Bead, and Mr. Campbell. I wish to tell you 
what the Bible has done for Africa. What would 
have become of the Hottentot nation, and every black 
man in South Africa, had you kept the Word of God 
to yourselves ? When you received the Word of God, 
you thought of other nations who had not that word. 
When the Bible came among us we were naked, we 
lived in caves and on the tops of mountains. The Bi- 
ble made us throw away all our old customs and prac- 
tices, and we lived among civilized men. We are 
tame men now. Now we know there is a God ; now 
we know we are accountable creatures before God. 
Before the Bible came we kaew none of these things. 
We knew nothing about hetiven — we knew not who 
made heaven and earth. The Bible is the only light 
for every man that dwells on the face of the earth. I 
thank God in the name of every Hottentot for the Bi- 
ble. I have gone with the missionaries in taking the 
Bible to the Bushmen and other nations. When the 
Word of God was preached, the Bushman threw away 
his bow and arrows. I have gone with the Bible to 



262 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the CafFre nation; and when the Bible spoke to the 
CafFre, he threw away his shield and all his vain cus- 
toms. I went to Lattakoo, and they threw away all 
their evil works ; they threw away their assagais, and 
became the children of God. Where the Bible is not, 
there is nothing but darkness : it is dangerous to trav- 
el through such a nation. Where the Bible is not, 
man does not hesitate to kill his neighbor ; he never 
even repents afterward of having committed murder. 
I thank you to-day — I do nothing but thank you to- 
day." 

This simple, truthful language is descriptive of hea- 
thenism every where, unenlightened by the Bible, and 
also of the happy results produced by its distribution 
in all '' the dark places of the earth filled with the 
habitations of cruelty." 

In 1840, the board received a communication from 
the Bev. J. L. Wilson, missionary at Cape Palmas, ac- 
quainting them with the fact that the Gospel of Mat- 
thew had been translated into the Grebo tongue, and 
that one thousand copies had been printed. The Acts 
of the Apostles had also been translated, and would 
soon be ready for publication. One thousand dollars 
had already been furnished by the board toward that 
work. 

The next year the board made an additional grant 
of three hundred and fifty dollars to aid in printing 
the Gospels under the superintendence of Mr. Wikon. 

The auxiliaries of the British and Foreign Bible So- 
ciety at Sierra Leone, Cape Town, and other places, 
were engaged in the work of translating, printing, and 
circulating the Scriptures in the languages of Africa. 
At Sierra Leone the interest was increasing, and dis- 
tributions had been made to some good extent among 
the Jews at Tunis. 

In 1846, a Wesleyan missionary from South Africa 



BIBLE IN AFRICA. 263 

writes, '' I think, in CafFreland, on the various stations 
occupied by the London and Glasgow Societies and 
German missionaries, there- are at least five or six 
thousand who can read the Word of God. Within 
the last few years, education has progressed with as- 
tonishing rapidity. We publish a monthly magazine 
in Caflfre, the articles mainly furnished by natives, and 
in our stations we have several hundred subscribers 
(natii^es). The first edition of the New Testament 
(or rather part of it, including the four Gospels, Acts, 
James, John, Peter, and Jude), of one thousand copies, 
was out of print in a very short time. When I left, 
in February, 1843, we were printing an edition of ^ve 
thousand, and there were readers and a demand for 
every copy as fast as the book could be finished." 

In 1848, the board made a grant of two hundred 
Bibles and Testaments to the American Board of Com- 
missioners for Foreign Missions for missions in Africa. 

The society is at present engaged in printing the 
Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts in the Grebo 
language, translated by the Bev. Mr. Payne, an Epis- 
copal missionary in Western Africa. Other portions 
of the New Testament have been translated by the 
same gentleman, and the board have entered into en- 
gagements to publish them when forwarded to the 
Bible House. 

The Bev. Mr. Moffat, a missionary among the Be- 
chiianas, writes : "We have seen the usefulness of the 
written Word verified again and again. This was well 
expressed by one of the native converts, now a leader 
and witness to the people. He had been placed in 
trying circumstances, which were well calculated to 
shake a stronger faith than his. ' But for the New 
Testament,' said he, ' you would not have found me 
among the faithful, nor even an inhabitant of a mis- 
sionary station ; and but for the written Word of God, 



2^4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

I should have parted with my faith, and hecome as a 
dead man.' This was impressive, especially from one 
who could say as he did, in his last address or sermon 
here, before going to occupy a station as native teacher 
in the far* interior. Lifting the Testament from the 
desk, he asked his countrymen, ' What did we think 
of this hook before we were taught to read ? Just the 
same as those think of it who are yet in that state of 
darkness and death in which we ourselves once were. 
We imagined it to be a charm of the white people to 
keep off sickness, a thing only like other things, or 
that it was a trap to catch us. We never heard of 
such a thing. Our fathers, who have all died in dark- 
ness, could not tell us about it. It was a new thing 
in our nation, and it was a seo hela, a trifle nobody 
cared for; but now we not only hear with our ears, 
and see with our eyes, but we read it to our children, 
and we teach them to read it too. We can find noth- 
ing bad in it. It is all good. It is a charm^ for it 
preserves us from the second death in hell. It is a 
thing, it is true, but it is a thing compared to which 
all other things are nothing. We thought it was a 
thing to be spoken to, but now we know it has a 
tongue. It speaks, and will speak to the whole 
world.' " 

AVhat comment more striking than this do we wish 
of the declarations of the Psalmist, "" The law of the 
Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony 
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." 

We remarked, in the beginning of this article, that 
Africa was the most wretched and helpless of all por- 
tions of the heathen world ; and yet it would seem 
that less has been done for her salvation by the friends 
of missions and the Bible than for any other quarter 
of the globe. A hundred fold more has been done 
even for one single island. Why is this ? Is it be- 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 



265 



cause the field is not white unto harvest ? or that the 
fruits will not repay the laborer's toil ? It can not be. 
Souls are as precious in Africa as in Asia, or Europe, 
or America. Of all countries under heaven, we owe 
her the most, for we have wronged her the most. 
While she imploringly stretches out her hand in the 
name of her God, let us labor to deliver '^her land 
fro'in error'' s chainP We feel grateful that the Bible 
is there — that a Mills and a Cox sleep upon her shores. 
If the sight of the wild boy in the wood learning his 
letters be, according to Dr. Chalmers, the most sub- 
lime spectacle on earth, what heart can be insensible 
to the grandeur of those results produced by the intro- 
duction of the Bible, the missionary, the teacher, the 
school, the printing press, and all the blessings of civil 
and religious liberty. 



CHAPTER XXYIII. 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 



Under this designation we shall embrace all those 
countries in the East where the society has extended 
its operations, but more particularly those to which 
the term specifically applies, such as Greece, Syria, 
Egypt, Turkey, Persia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. 

As we advance in our Biblical researches, the ground 
over which we tread becomes more and more sacred, 
and our interest in tracing the flight of the Apocalyp- 
tic angel speeding his way to the nations with " the 
everlasting Gospel" increases as we contemplate his 
wondrous journey. 

When we consider that seven tenths of the world's 
population have already been startled by the rush of 



2G6 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

his wings, and enraptured by the melody of his song, 
we anticipate the day as not far distant when the 
" glad tidings" of his message shall break the silence 
of every shore. 

Whatever relates to the reintroduction of the Bible 
into those countries where it was first written and pub- 
lished — where the Divine Author of the Gospel him- 
self lived and labored, suffered and died, must be of 
thrilling interest to all who love the cause of true re- 
ligion. 

We propose, in our researches, to conduct our readers 
to the deserts of Arabia, to the ancient sites of the 
schools of the prophets on the banks of the Jordan, to 
the sumptuous palaces of Babylon, to the Temple at 
Jerusalem, to the proud cities of G-reece and Rome; 
and while, with melancholy interest, we gaze upon 
their ruins in the absence of that divine revelation 
which once rayed out from these points, we shall di- 
rect the attention to the faint light of a returning 
morn breaking upon their mountains and heralding 
a coming day. 

After the captivity in Babylon, in the days of Ezra, 
the compiler and publisher of the Scriptures, the Word 
was read by him and the Levites from an elevated 
platform to an audience of fifty thousand ; and so sa- 
credly did the Jews regard the words of the Law, that 
as soon as the reader ascended the platform and open- 
ed the Book, the whole audience simultaneously rose 
to their feet. 

In the days of the Savior, manuscript copies of the 
Bible, in the translation of the LXX., at Alexandria^ 
were found in all the synagogues of the Jews, but, like 
the many monuments of ancient grandeur scattered 
all over those countries, few traces of the divine Rec- 
ord are to be found. 

Since the era of Bible societies, the living Oracles, 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 267 

like the exiled Jews to whom they were first com- 
mitted, are retm-ning to their native land. After 
having dispensed hlessings to almost every portion of 
the Gentile world, the Waters of Life are returning to 
refill the founts from whence they sprang. 

The first notice we have of any regular and sys- 
tematic efibrts to circulate the Bihle in those countries 
which form the suhject of this article, were those made 
hy the London Missionary Society in 1811. 

That society sent the Rev. Mr. Bloomfield to Malta, 
in the Mediterranean, as a point from whence he could 
ckculate the Scriptures in those countries hordering 
upon that sea. 

Li 1815, the Church Missionary Society, for the pro- 
motion of the same object, and as a literary representa- 
tive, sent the E-ev. Mr. Jowett to that island. 

Li 1820, the American Board of Commissioners for 
Foreign Missions commenced a mission there, with the 
design of benefiting the mingled inhabitants of Pales- 
tine. 

They also sent a printing establishment, with three 
presses and fonts of type, for printing the English, 
Italian, G-reek, Greco- Turkish, Armenian, Armeno- 
Turkish, and Arabic. 

The selection of Malta as the emporium of Bible 
and missionary operations for countries bordering on 
the Mediterranean was the most desirable thing that 
could have been wished for in the promotion of these 
benevolent objects. 

This island may be regarded as the key by which 
all the doors in the East could be unlocked. No posi- 
tion could be more commanding. Contiguous to it 
are the Black Sea and Arabian Gulf, which, in con- 
nection with the Mediterranean, in which it is situa- 
ted, present a line of coast which, if drawn out in 
length, would encircle one half of the globe. 



268 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY 

All the territory adjacent to this boundary line is 
solid continent, extending thousands of miles. From 
the greater part of these countries Malta is not more 
than fifteen days' sail distant. All the surrounding 
country, and the numerous islands that adorn this vast 
expanse of waters, are well peopled. 

In addition to the societies above named which have 
selected this favorable spot, we mention the London 
Jew's Society and the Wesleyan Methodist Mission- 
ary Society. 

In 1821, measures were adopted by the Malta Bible 
Society to translate the entire Bible into the modern 
Greek. 

In 1823, the society reports the distribution of the 
Scriptures in Italian, Greek, Armenian, Syriac, Ethi- 
opic, and the common European versions. 

At Aleppo, four hundred and ninety-nine Arabic 
Testaments, and six hundred and forty Arabic Psalters, 
were distributed in three days. 

The translation of the modern Greek Testament had 
been accomplished, and measures adopted for its pub- 
lication. The Testament had been translated into the 
Albanian language, and was under revision for publi- 
cation. 

An interesting communication was received from 
the Rev. Pliny Fisk, describing his visits to Smyrna, 
Teos, Vourla, Scio, Ephesus, and Tenedos, in all which 
places he left some copies of the Scriptures, which were 
thankfully received. 

In 1824, the society at Malta issued nearly eight 
thousand copies of the Scriptures, or parts of them, in 
different languages. They were sent to Alexandria, 
Cairo, Smyrna, Aleppo, Candia, Cyprus, Algiers, Tunis, 
Joannina, and other places. The Turkish Bible was 
completed and in the press. 

The Gospels were translated into modern Armenian. 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 269 

Thirteen hundred Bibles and Testaments had been 
sent to Constantinople, Syria, and Armenia. 

In 1825, the report of that society states that the 
light of divine Truth was shining upon the darkness 
of Egypt. The Coptic Church had lifted up its voice 
in favor of the Bible Society, and its priests were urg- 
ing the people to purchase the Word of God. The 
patriarch and bishops also called upon the Bible So- 
ciety for help. 

To Palestine were sent Scriptures in the Arabic, 
Armenian, French, Hebrew, English, Italian, Greek, 
Ethiopic, Syrian, and Slavonian languages. 

The British and Foreign Bible Society had sent the 
Gospels in the Amharic language to Abyssinia. Dis- 
tributions were also effected through the Ionian Bible 
Society. 

In 1826, the Malta Bible Society issued upward of 
ten thousand copies of the Scriptures in fifteen differ- 
ent languages. 

The Ionian Bible Society had sent thousands of cop- 
ies to the suffering Greeks, many of whom were seen 
reading the sacred page while encamped and in ex 
pectation of the enemy. 

In Turkey, the firman of the grand seignior, prohib- 
iting the circulation of the Bible, proved an extensive 
publication of the fact of their existence, and excited 
many to procure the prohibited books. 

From the depositories at Smyrna, Aleppo, and Con- 
stantinople, four thousand copies, in the Arabic, Syri- 
ac, Turkish, and Armenian languages, had been issued. 
Also at Jerusalem, Tyre, Sidon, Tripoli, and Damas- 
cus, the Scriptures have been circulated. 

In the Persian language the Pentateuch had been 
translated, and a version of the historical books in 
progress. 

The following year witnessed a like zeal on the be- 



270 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

half of the above-named institutions to circulate the 
Bible in the Levant. 

Having thus briefly alluded to the operations of 
other societies in this interesting field, by way of 
introduction to the history of the operations of the 
American Bible Society, we shall dismiss that sub- 
ject, and confine our observations to the society, the 
history of whose operations we are endeavoring to 
give. 

In 1828, it being determined that the Be v. Jonas 
King, who had been a missionary to Palestine, should 
visit Greece for moral and religious purposes, the so- 
ciety appropriated one. thousand five hundred dollars 
to supply that gentleman with Greek Scriptures for 
that oppressed country. Great sympathy was mani- 
fested at that time in behalf of the Greeks all over the 
country, and large quantities of provisions, clothing, 
and money were sent to their relief It was but right 
and proper that with these benefactions should be sent 
the word of eternal life. 

In 1829, to the Missionary Society of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church, for the purpose of circulating the 
Scriptures in Greece, the board made a grant of Rye 
hundred dollars. 

A letter from Mr. King, addressed to the Correspond- 
ing Secretary, Bev. J. C. Brigham, communicated the 
facts that the desire for the Scriptures in Greece was 
very great, and that they were in a very poor and 
wretched condition generally, many of them destitute 
of the necessaries of life. The demand for the Scrip- 
tures was such that he ought immediately to be put 
in possession of thirty thousand copies for gratuitous 
distribution. 

In 1830, interesting accounts of Bible circulation 
in Greece were received from the Bev. Messrs. King 
and Bobertson. These gentlemen were authorized by 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 271 

the board to purchase Greek Scriptures from the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society. 

In 1831, a communication was received from Mr. 
Brewer, in which he says, " The circulation of the Scrip- 
tures in different parts of the Turkish empire is go- 
ing on more and more extensively. The depots at 
Smyrna and Constantinople were issuing their thou- 
sands annually in different parts of the country." 

In 1832, a letter from the Rev. Mr. Brewer, dated 
at the Isle of Patmos, to the board, says, in speaking 
of the Seven Churches of Asia, '' Why should you not 
undertake to furnish every family dwelling where the 
churches mentioned in the New Testament are locat- 
ed, and especially those to which its holy epistles were 
addressed ? Beginning at Jerusalem, whither we trust 
shortly to send a pious Greek, more especially for car- 
rying forward school operations, the hundreds of Greek 
and Armenian families could be supplied through his 
agency and that of the missionaries who visit there 
during the Passover season." 

In 1833, the board resolved on an appropriation of 
two thousand dollars for the use of the missions of the 
various denominations in the Mediterranean, which 
was subsequently remitted. 

This year the British and Foreign Bible Society 
were called to mourn the loss of that distinguished 
Oriental scholar, Mr. William Greenfield, professor of 
the Turkish language in the College of France. For 
ten years he was engaged in the translation of the 
Turkish Bible, which he published for that society. 
He also superintended various editions of the Scrip- 
tures in other tongues for the society, and was untir- 
ing in his efforts to put them in circulation. In the 
course of one year previous to his death, he effected 
the distribution of two hundred thousand Bibles and 
Testaments, mostly in France. 



272 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

A letter from one of the missionaries at Malta to 
Dr. Brigham congratulates the society for having com- 
pleted the plates for printing the New Testament in 
modern Greek, and also communicating the intelli- 
gence that the Armenian Bishop Carabet had finish- 
ed the translation of the Old Testament into the Ar- 
meno-Turkish language, and expressing a desire that 
the society should undertake its publication. 

It also suggested the propriety of sending an agent 
of the society to the Levant. 

In 1834, the board made the following grants : To 
the Rev. J. Brewer, at Smyrna, five hundred copies 
of the modern Greek Testament. To the Rev. Dr. 
King, of Athens, Greece, two hundred copies of the 
same. To the Rev. J. Robinson, of Syra, two hund- 
red ; and a like number to the Rev. Mr. Goodell, at 
Constantinople. 

In 1835, a communication was received from the 
Rev. Mr. Schauffler, missionary of the American Board 
of Foreign Missions among the Jews at Constantinople 
and countries around it. The object of this communis 
cation was to make the board acquainted with the con- 
dition of the Jewish population in the Ottoman em- 
pire, and to propose the publication of the Scriptures 
of the Old Testament in the Hebrew and Hebrew- 
Spanish languages, that the three hundred thousand 
souls who are still heirs of many divine promises may 
not perish at our very doors without an effort to save 
them from the judicial blindness in which they grope 
at noonday. 

He had commenced revising the Psalms, with the 
intention of printing an edition of three thousand. 
This, with the Jews, is the most desirable book in the 
Old Testament canon. After learning that the pro- 
posed translation of Mr. Schaufiler was in accordance 
with the regulations of the board, and that the print- 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 



273 



ing could be done at Smyrna or Constantinople, the 
board granted one thousand dollars to aid in the pub- 
lication of the Psalms in Hebrew-Spanish. 

To the same society was granted eight hundred 
dollars, for the purpose of procuring Arabic Scriptures 
to be distributed by their missionaries in Syria. 

Another grant to the same society of five hundred 
dollars was made for the purpose of supplying the Eev. 
Mr. Perkins with Syriac Scriptures for distribution 
among the Nestorians in Persia. 

In 1836, the board granted to the Rev. Dr. King, 
missionary at Greece, a good supply of modern Greek 
Testaments. A letter from that gentleman represents 
the demand for the Scriptures as increasingly great. 

The board having authorized him to employ a na-' 
tive agent for distributing the Scriptures in that coun- 
try, he accordingly employed a priest who had been 
a teacher in his gymnasium for three years, a native 
of Sparta, by the name of Damianos. 

Damianos was recommended by the Bishop of 
Sparta, and, belonging to the priesthood, he had ac- 
cess to all the churches, where he could preach to the 
people on the subject of reading and circulating the 
Word of God. 

Five hundred copies of Testaments were also sent 
to the Rev. Mr. Hill, missionary of the Protestant 
Episcopal Church in Athens. 

During the year the board granted to the Missionary 
Society of the Protestant Episcopal Church, for Greco- 
Turkish and other Scriptures for Greece and the Gre- 
cian Archipelago, three thousand dollars. 

To the same society, for Persian and other Scrip- 
tures, by their missionary in Persia, five hundred dol- 
lars. 

To the American Board, for Persian and other Scrip- 
tures, five hundred dollars. 

S 



274 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

To the same board, for Armeno-Turkish Scriptures, 
five thousand dollars. 

During the year 1837, the managers, in accordance 
with their previous determination of sending agents 
abroad to assist in preparing and circulating the Scrip- 
tures at the more important missionary stations, ap- 
pointed the Rev. Simeon H. Calhoun to superintend 
the operations of the society in the Levant. 

He was cordially received by the American and En- 
glish missionaries, and the agent of the British and 
Foreign Bible Society at Smyrna. 

An arrangement was made through Mr. Calhoun to 
have the Hebrew-Spanish Old Testament translated 
at the joint expense of the British and Foreign and 
the American Bible Societies. This arrangement was 
highly satisfactory to all the missionaries. Objections 
being made to the version of the Greek Testament 
on account of its idiom. Professor Bambas, an eminent 
Greek scholar of high moral qualifications, made a 
new translation. 

To the American missionaries at Constantinople 
the board sent a supply of Bibles and Testaments in 
the German, French, Italian, and modern Greek, for 
the benefit of those speaking the above tongue in 
Turkey and the surrounding regions. 

To the Rev. Mr. Smith, for the purpose of circula- 
ting the Arabic Scriptures in schools among the desti- 
tute in Syria, the board appropriated five hundred dol- 
lars. 

In regard to the circulation of the Bible in Syria, 
the Rev. Mr. Thompson, in a letter to the board, says, 
'' I am in favor of putting a Bible into the hands of 
every one of the thousands of pilgrims who annually 
flock to Jerusalem, the city of sacred associations. In 
this way Bibles will find their way to every country 
from Ethiopia to Siberia, and from India to Spain. 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 275 

The only possible way by which we can reach the 
millions of this country is by sending them the Bible. 
The few and feeble missionaries in the field can not 
supply them. From that quarter there is absolutely 
no hope. There are several hundred thousand Chris- 
tians of the Syriac and other churches in and around 
Mosul. They are destitute of both Bibles and priests, 
but keep up a most inveterate hostility to the pope, 
and are anxious to receive the Word of God. Various 
Oriental sects in Aleppo, Torsoos, and Cesara, with 
the countries around them, are equally destitute." 

From the Bev. Justin Perkins, missionary in Persia, 
the board received the following: 

'' The field for the distribution of the Scriptures 
among the Nestorian Christians is ivide^ and wide open. 
They have reverence for the sacred Volume, and, un- 
like all other Oriental Christian sects, they make it 
their only rule of faith and professedly of practice. 
Until I came to Persia, they could procure no copies 
of the Bible save those furnished at long intervals by 
the slow motion of the pen. The entire Scriptures 
were printed long ago in ancient Syriac by the British 
and Foreign Bible Society, but scarcely a printed copy 
had reached them before my arrival. The deep rev- 
erence with which they kiss and fold it to their bosoms 
when I present it to them, at the same time imploring 
innumerable blessings to rest on those who send them 
such a treasure, is truly affecting. This best of mis- 
sionaries will, I feel assured, become ' the power of 
God unto salvation' to multitudes of this poor people 
who were ' ready to perish,' and soon prepare them, in 
turn, to become the heralds of the pure Gospel to the 
benighted millions of Persia and all Asia." 

From the Rev. Mr. Calhoun, the society's agent in 
the Levant, an interesting letter was received in 1838, 
in relation to the translations, printing, and circula- 



276 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

tion of the Scriptures in various languages in that 
country. 

To the Rev. Mr. Whiting, missionary at Jerusalem, 
he had sent a supply of Bibles and Testaments in the 
Arabic, Greek, modern Greek, modern Armenian, and 
Greco-Turkish languages, designed for circulation 
among the thousands of pilgrims who visit the Holy 
City from all parts of the world at the season of the 
Passover. 

To the Rev. Mr. Love, of the Baptist mission at 
Patras, he sent eight hundred and thirty copies of the 
Scriptures in modern Greek and Italian. 

From Dr. Grant, of the Ooroomiah mission in Per- 
sia, a letter was received urging the publication of the 
Scriptures in the ancient Syriac, the written language 
of the Nestorian Christians. 

The doctor stated that there was not a complete 
copy of the Bible in the Nestorian character in the 
whole province of Ooroomiah. The same was true in 
regard to the numerous Nestorian population border- 
ing upon the Tigris. Detached portions were found, 
but so scarce that it was thought necessary to teach 
the children to read upward, or downward, or side- 
wise, so that five or six persons might, by forming a 
circle round it, read from a single book. Besides the 
Psalms of David, which formed an important part of 
their devotional exercises, there was but one copy of 
the Old Testament in all the province, containing a 
population of twenty thousand souls, and that was in 
three or four separate volumes, the property of several 
individuals. The supply of the Gospels in the Nesto- 
rian character, printed by the British and Foreign Bi- 
ble Society, was tolerably good, but none of the Epis- 
tles or Acts of the Apostles could be found, while the 
Book of Revelations in the Nestorian character had 
never reached them. 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 277 

The communications of the society's agent in rela- 
tion to the circulation of the Scriptures among the 
Greeks, Persians, Arabians, Turks, Russians, and 
Jews, as found in the Reports of the society, are of an 
exceedingly interesting character. 

In 1840, at the urgent request of missionaries, fif- 
teen hundred German Bibles and five hundred Testa- 
ments had been forwarded to the poor colonists in 
Southern Russia bordering on the Black Sea. Four 
hundred and seventy fiye Bibles and Testaments, in 
difierent tongues, were sent to the agent, to meet the 
frequent demands from seamen, missionary stations, 
pilgrims, and others. The agent also made extensive 
purchases of Bibles from other societies and delivered 
them to missionaries. 

In relation to Greece, it was stated that a warm dis- 
cussion was going on in Athens in regard to the sub- 
ject of translations. The controversy was confined to 
the Greeks themselves, while the missionaries are ac- 
tively engaged in the work of distribution, and thus, 
in the most efiectual manner, defeating the schemes 
of those who would lock up the Word of God in a dead 
language. The more light the people get, the more 
unwilling are they to go back to the days of darkness. 

Copies were furnished to the Baptist missionaries at 
Patras. The missionaries state that officers, civil and 
military, and priests, had made application for the Bi- 
ble, and that, through Albanian Greeks, it had been 
communicated throughout the extreme districts of Al- 
bania in Turkey. 

At Athens there were upward of eight thousand fur- 
nished by the agent. 

At Constantinople, Salonica, Broosa, and Jerusa- 
lem, one thousand two hundred in Hebrew-Spanish. 

The agent also procured Greco-Turkish Scriptures 
for American missionaries. Also copies of Arabic, 



278 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Turkish, Italian, and Armenian, to be distributed in 
Turkey and Syria. 

The agent received and disbursed funds for the trans- 
lation and printing of the Scriptures in different lan- 
guages. 

During the year he made a visit to Egypt, and from 
thence into Syria, visiting the missionaries at Beyrout 
and Jerusalem. He found at Alexandria a box of Bi- 
bles in the hands of the American consul, which had 
been sent to Mr. Wolf, the Jewish missionary. At 
Beyrout the missionaries had printed, at the expense 
of the society, the Book of Psalms in Arabic. 

In the island of Cyprus, where an American mis- 
sion is established, the Greek Scriptures were exten- 
sively circulated without opposition. 

In 1841, to aid in the publication of the Hebrew- 
Spanish Old Testament at Vienna, under the superin- 
tendence of the Rev. Mr. Schauffler, the board made 
an appropriation of six thousand dollars. 

This being the year in which the agent visited the 
United States, there were no communications from the 
Levant in regard to the special operations of the soci- 
ety in that region. 

In 1842, a supply of Bibles was sent to Dr. Grant 
for the use of the Nestorian clergy. 

For preparing and circulating the Scriptures in 
Greece, Turkey, Persia, and Syria, under the direction 
of the society's agent, two thousand four hundred and 
ninety-nine dollars were appropriated. 

The rabbis at Constantinople had manifested much 
hostility to the Christian missionaries, and forbade 
their brethren from entering the house of Mr. Schauf- 
fler, who was engaged in translating the Old Testa- 
ment into the Hebrew- Spanish language, and it was 
thought that their opposition would prevent the cir- 
culation of the Bible among those for whom it was 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 279 

designed, but the wonderful providence of God order- 
ed it otherwise. To the astonishment of every one, 
the chief rabbi of Constantinople issued a certificate 
in favor of that very translation in the following words, 
translated from the Hebrew : 

" Consider y my people ^ and act, 

" Approbation of the exalted rabbi in the city oi 
Constantinople to the twenty-four sacred books trans- 
lated into Spanish, and printed in the city of Vienna, 
by the celebrated William Schauffler, an upright and 
pious man, well acquainted with the grammatical 
science of the language, and worthy the support and 
confidence of every individual. 

'^ Ye men, come and see how good and beautiful is 
the work the mighty One has composed. His work is 
his ornament, the token of his power, the proclama- 
tion of his goodness ; a flowing well, a fountain of wis- 
dom. He has displayed the banner of his law, putting 
it into a pure, intelligible language, informing each 
one of what he reads by what method the youth can 
direct his way in obscure paths. He offers pleasing 
tidings, serving to us not only as light, but as honey 
and cream to our tongue ; explaining the words of the 
King and of his law, emanating from justice ; making 
understood the words of Wisdom, that all his works 
are faithful; showing us how to learn and to teach 
proper actions. Its contents are like fresh water to one 
who is thirsty ; it does not weary, but gives strength 
to those who have none. With knowledge he speaks 
pure words that are clear to be understood, and so 
taught that the young and old may walk uprightly. 
Read and study according to the will of Him who 
dwelt in the bush. He has brought to light here 
every thing that is obscure, that each might come and 
open, and examine the truth in its length, and breadth, 



280 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

and height. Such a work has not before been among 
us. It is a benefit which our forefathers could not 
avail themselves of; it is now plain, and strong like 
an oak. Every one will say our eyes have beheld 
something new. The Lord gave him wisdom, and 
placed in his mouth to say, * Thus speak to the house 
of Jacob from a foreign nation ;' the Lord shall recom- 
pense him, and his reward shall be perfect. May the 
Lord consider it favorably. And now, my brethren, 
come and take hold of the good which is provided ; 
search from the Book of the Lord, and read it daily, 
that you may know how to walk in the desert and in 
the plain. There is none before this man versed in 
the grammatical structure of the language of the law 
which Moses hath given ; he well knows each portion 
of it. Whoever desires life should weigh his silver to 
purchase this Book. Hear and obey this Word, and 
the earth shall be filled with knowledge out of the 
fountain of salvation which rises for us in heaven. 
May the Lord grant you mercy manifold, to children 
and children's children, to study the law, and reward 
you bountifully. Whoever will obey shall be blessed 
by the Most High, and upon him happiness shall de- 
scend, and peace shall be in his possession until Shiloh 
appears, and the Redeemer comes to Zion. Amen! 
Given on the first day of Thamuz, in the year 5590 
from the creation of the world. 

" He who thus sends forth this message and saluta- 
tion is Samuel Heimann." 

The Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, by the Rev. 
Mr. Goodell, was finished this year, and its publication 
was going on. 

The preparation of the above work was a long and 
difficult one, consuming the time and strength of many 
years. The translator made an effort to carry it for- 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 281 

ward in connection with his other lahors as a mission- 
ary, but he found it necessary, after a short trial, to 
devote himself exclusively to the one work. The 
work of Mr. Goodell is not a version or revision of an- 
other translation, for there were none in existence. 
The whole was taken from the Hebrew. When he 
had finished it, he vnrote at the bottom of the page, 
"Bless the Lord, O my soul! and forget not all his 
benefits." He then rose up, shut all the books that 
had been open before him for years, fell on his knees, 
and gave thanks unto the name of the Lord, '' who 
had not dealt with us according to our sins," but who 
had given us his blessed Word to be "a light unto our 
feet," and whose wondrous love permits us to hold 
it up to "lighten every man that cometh into, the 
world." 

The society's agent, in relation to the field of opera- 
tion assigned him, says, "It is most gratifying to be 
able to state that the field for the distribution of the 
Scriptures in these regions has never been more open, 
or the obstacles less than at the present moment. In 
Syria and Greece, at Constantinople and Broosa, and 
South Russia, we are permitted to go forward without 
material hinder ance. It is a fact worthy of record, that 
the field has become more open to us just at a time 
when we are becoming better supplied with the Scrip- 
tures. Hitherto the missionaries have been employed 
much in translations. As their labors are approach- 
ing a termination, and we are getting their works 
through the press, we find that the Lord is opening the 
way before us for their circulation. Thus are we 
taught to wait patiently for the Lord." 

An urgent request was made by the board this year 
to print the Arabic Testament, and the agent entered 
upon the work. 

On the request of Dr. King, of Athens, the board 



282 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

resolved to publish an edition of the modern Greek 
Testament, from the plates in the possession of the 
society. 

In 1843, the board sent to the agent in the Levant 
five thousand dollars, to be appropriated by him in 
translating, printing, and circulating the Scriptures in 
that country. 

The Rev. Mr. Schauffler, while at Vienna, with the 
advice of the agent, published an edition of the New 
Testament in German, with the Book of Psalms an- 
nexed. This was designed for the multitudes in that 
papal country, and in Hungary, where it was gladly 
received, the Queen of Hungary herself engaging in 
the work of distribiition. 

The society, at its own expense, has published the 
following Scriptures in the Levant : 

Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, three thousand 
copies, printed at Smyrna. 

Armeno-Turkish Pentateuch, two thousand copies, 
printed at Smyrna. 

Hebrew- Spanish Old Testament, three thousand 
copies, printed at Vienna. 

Hebrew-Spanish Psalms, three thousand, printed 
at Constantinople. 

Hebrew-Spanish Pentateuch, ^ye hundred, printed 
at Vienna. 

Ancient Armenian New Testament, two thousand, 
printed at Smyrna. 

Ancient Armenian four Gospels, one thousand, 
printed at Smyrna. 

Gospel of John, in modern Greek, two thousand, 
printed at Smyrna. 

Modern Armenian Psalms, one thousand, printed at 
Smyrna. 

Psalms in Arabic, two thousand, printed at Bey- 
rout. 



BIBLE IN THE LEVANT. 283 

Acts of the Apostles, in Arabic, two thousand, print- 
ed at Beyrout. 

Psalms, in ancient Syriac, one thousand, printed at 
Ooroomiah. 

Galatians, in ancient Syriac, one thousand, printed 
at Ooroomiah. 

Acts of the Apostles, in ancient Syriac, one thou- 
sand, printed at Ooroomiah. 

German New Testament and Psalms, two thousand, 
printed in Austria. 

The Old Testament in modern Armenian, the Old 
Testament in Syriac, the New Testament in Arabic, 
Proverbs in Arabic, and another edition of Psalms in 
Arabic, were in process of publication. 

A letter from Dr. Goodell to the board, reviewing 
his labors, and communicating his intentions in regard 
to future action in the open field of missionary toil, 
contains some just and admirable sentiments in regard 
to the absolute importance of the Bible to the mis- 
sionary in the same language in which he preaches 
the word of salvation. He says, '' Without the Bible 
we could say one thing, and the priest of a false re- 
ligion could say another, but where would be the um- 
pire ? It would be nowhere, and all our efforts would 
be, of course, like 'beating the air.' And we may 
ask, "What could even the apostles have done without 
the Bible ? Among the Jews he could have done ab- 
solutely nothing : they based their whole new revela- 
tion upon it. They appealed to it always, and they 
asserted it to be more sure and certain than any voice 
they had themselves heard in the holy mount. And 
so our Savior himself appealed to it. Instead of re- 
quiring the Jews to take his mere word for the truth, 
he either confirmed it to them by a miracle, or referred 
them to their own Scriptures for the truth of it. With 
the Bible in our hands and in the hands of the peo- 



284 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



pie, we stand on the Rock of Ages and build for eter- 
nity, but without it we build on the sand, and our 
house is exposed to be blown down by every storm." 

In 1844, for printing and distributing the Scriptures 
in various languages in the countries of the Levant, 
the board appropriated eight thousand one hundred 
and forty-five dollars. 

Interesting accounts were forwarded to the board 
by the agent from Bible distributers in Turkey. At 
Koolah, Ushak, Car a, Hissar, Broosa, Kansack, Solus, 
Kermasti, and Trebizonde, hundreds of books were sold, 
and their reports furnished gratifying evidence of the 
benefits resulting from their circulation. 

In 1845, on the request of the agent, the board 
granted to the Baptist Foreign Missionary Society, for 
distribution by their missionaries in Greece, fifteen 
hundred modern Greek Testaments. 

The board granted one thousand dollars to aid the 
Rev. Dr. Perkins, missionary of the American Board 
of Foreign Missions in Ooroomiah, Persia, in publish- 
ing the New Testament in modern Syriac, which he 
and others had translated. In addition to the recom- 
mendation of the society's agent, the secretary of the 
missionary board gave ample assurance of the fidelity 
of the translation. 

To the same board was also granted one thousand 
dollars to aid in translating and printing the Old Test- 
ament in modern Armenian, the New Testament hav- 
ing been published by the British and Foreign Bible 
Society some years before. 

To the agent, for printing portions of the Bible in 
different languages, the board appropriated Rye thou- 
sand dollars. 

Mr. Calhoun feeling it his duty to go to Mount Leb- 
anon and engage in the duties of a missionary, his Bi- 
ble agency was brought to a close. 



BIBLE IN rilE LEVANT. 



28 



His last letter to the board contains the following 
statements : " During eight years the society has print- 
ed, chiefly at Smyrna and Beyrout, three thousand 
five hundred copies of the Scriptures, in whole or in 
part. It had distributed in the Levant about sixty 
thousand, obtained from different places. These Scrip- 
tures were in the following languages : Hebrew, He- 
brew-Spanish, Arabic, Syriac, Persian, Turkish, Ar- 
meno - Turkish, Greco -Turkish, ancient and modern 
Armenian, ancient and modern Greek, Albanian, Ger- 
man, Italian, French, and English." With this truly 
pious and devoted servant of Christ we have the hon- 
or of a personal acquaintance, and most ardently do 
we hope he may long be permitted to live and to labor 
in the ancient Gospel land. 

In 1846, the board entered into engagements to fur- 
nish ten thousand dollars for the purpose of printing 
a new edition of the Hebrew-Spanish Scriptures for 
the use of the Spanish Jews ; also to furnish means 
for translating and publishing the Hebrew- German 
Scriptures for the use of the German and Polish Jews 
in Russia and Turkey. 

A further engagement was made to prepare and pub- 
lish the Old Testament in modern Armenian, and the 
New Testament in modern Syriac, at Ooroomiah, in 
Persia, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Perkins, 
one thousand dollars toward which were remitted last 
year. 

In 1847, the board granted two thousand five hund- 
red dollars to the American Board of Foreign Missions 
to aid in the publication of the entire Bible in modern 
Syriac, for the use of the Nestorians in Persia, the 
increasing interest manifested, by this people in relig- 
ion making it particularly desirable that they should 
be furnished with the Word of God. 

To aid in the publication of the Hebrew- German 



2gg AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Scriptures, for the use of the German Jews, prepared 
by Mr. Schauffier, ^ye hundred dollars were granted. 

In 1848, for the purpose of publishing the Scrip- 
tures in Turkey, under the direction of the American 
missionaries, five thousand dollars were remitted dur- 
ing the year. 

From a committee of missionaries in Turkey the 
board received the cheering intelligence that, through- 
out all the countries of the Levant, the Word of God, 
in the various languages in which it had been pub- 
lished by the society, had free course, and was glori- 
fied in the salvation of those to whom it was sent. 
"The diffusion of the sacred Volume," say they, "must 
always form an important part of our work. The Bi- 
ble is the first book we wish to put into the hands of 
this people, and nothing can be better adapted to show 
them their errors, and their helpless and hapless con- 
dition without saving faith in Christ. We are, there- 
fore, fully prepared to urge the society not to slacken, 
but rather to prosecute with renewed zeal their opera- 
tions in this field. It surely holds out to them many 
encouragements. It promises a plentiful harvest at 
no distant day ; of this we feel more and more assured. 
The Christian sects of this empire are to be brought 
under the purifying and saving influences of the Bible. 
The developments of every year are tending more and 
more to this result." 



BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 937 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 

A Bible society was established in Russia at an 
early day. At the organization of the American Bible 
Society a fraternal correspondence was commenced, 
which has been kept up without interruption to the 
present time. 

In 1818 the board received a copy of its Reports, 
and several copies of Bibles and portions of Scripture 
published by that society in the various languages of 
the Russian empire, such as the Calmuc Armenian, 
Finnish, German, Polish, French, Slavonian, Dorpa- 
tian-Esthonian, Reval-Esthonian, Lettonian, Persian, 
Georgian, Samogatian, ancient Greek, modern Greek, 
Moldavian, and Tartar. The society has been patron- 
ized by the emperor with distinguished liberality, and 
by his nobles and the dignitaries of the Church with 
uncommon union. 

Though five years younger than the great parent of 
all Bible societies, the British and Foreign, it has been 
more extensively useful, perhaps, to the Eastern Con- 
tinent than its illustrious prototype. 

In 1820 it had promoted the translation and circu- 
lation of the Scriptures in forty-six different languages. 

The society started out upon its boundless field with 
the determination to furnish the Bible to every family, 
from the Swedish frontier to the Straits of Behring, 
and from the shores of the Frozen Ocean to the bound- 
aries of Turkey and China. 

In 1826, an imperial ukase, dictated by ignorance 
and prejudice, silenced the Bible press. The Russian 



2g3 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Bible Society, at this melancholy period of its history, 
had two hundred and eighty-nine auxiliaries, and had 
issued the Scriptures in various languages to the 
a,mount of one million of copies. 

The prohibition, however, did not extend to the sale 
and distribution of the Scriptures, nor to the existence 
of Bible societies. 

The same year the Russian Protestant Bible Society 
was organized at St. Petersburg. 

Through the labors of the Rev. Mr. Knill, who was 
furnished with Bibles and Testaments by the British 
and Foreign Bible Society, the St. Petersburg Society 
circulated in two years twenty-two thousand copies. 

In 1835, the board made a grant of three hundred 
dollars to the St. Petersburg Bible Society, on the re- 
quest of William Ropes, Esq., an American merchant 
at that place. He sent an extract from a letter to 
him from Pastor Malenberg, of Finland, showing the 
need of assistance : '^ You inquire," said he, " if I have 
any Finnish Bibles or New Testaments ? I have hith- 
erto had them, but have only six remaining. I would 
propose that you send me such books as I need, but I 
am afraid to do so. Who will pay for them ? and can 
I ascertain the price ? and how shall I be able to send 
you the money for them, having no more money than 
I need, and not always that ? I wish, from my in- 
most soul, that I could obtain New Testaments, but I 
know not how. Ponder these things, and tell me what 
is best, and what can be done." 

This society obtained the protection of the govern- 
ment, and quietly moved forward dispensing blessings. 

In 1836, the board granted to William Ropes, Esq., 
and associates, at St. Petersburg, for the purpose of ex- 
tending the circulation of the Scriptures, one thousand 
dollars. 

This year one thousand four hundred Testaments 



BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 289 

and Psalters were purchased by two ladies in Sheffield 
for distribution in Siberia. 

An interesting communication was received from 
the Rev. Mr. Brown and Mr. Ropes in relation to Bible 
distribution in Russia in 1838. With a view of sup- 
plying the destitute, through the liberality of the 
American Bible Society, these gentlemen requested 
the pastors to make inquiry in regard to the condition 
of the people. Several of them addressed circulars to 
their charges. One Lutheran pastor in Esthonia asked 
for five hundred New Testaments to supply his desti- 
tute parishioners. The general superintendent of the 
churches, subject to the Southern Consistorium of 
Moscow, wrote to all the pastors under his care, re- 
questing information in regard to the number of fam- 
ilies destitute of the Bible. He furnished the Rev. Mr. 
Brown with the names of twenty pastors whose peo- 
ple were destitute. The Archbishop of Finland ex- 
pressed his belief that there were forty thousand fam- 
ilies without the Scriptures. He stated that, though 
poor, they were mostly able to read, and would be 
thankful for the Word of God through the benevo- 
lence of American Christians. 

To supply these destitute, the board made a grant 
of one thousand five hundred dollars. 

In 1839, a letter from the Rev. Mr. Brown commu- 
nicated interesting intelligence in regard to the so- 
ciety's benefactions in Russia. One pastor says : 
" The supply of the destitute by the American Bible 
Society caused great astonishment and admiration. 
The people expressed themselves deeply gratified at 
the love which stretched out its arms over the sea to 
brethren it never saw. Two parishes, including fif- 
teen thousand souls, were represented as containing 
one thousand nine hundred and fifty destitute fami- 
lies." 

T 



290 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Another pastor stated that his parish contained 
eleven thousand two hundred souls, and that one 
thousand and ninety families were entirely destitute. 

Another parish, containing eight thousand souls, 
had six hundred destitute families. 

To meet these and similar wants, the hoard sent 
five hundred dollars, and one thousand five hundred 
German Bibles, for those speaking that language in 
the southern part of the empire. 

In 1841, on the request of Messrs. Ropes and Gili- 
brand, for the circulation of the Bible in Russia and 
Finland, the board granted one thousand dollars. 

In 1842, for the circulation of the Scriptures as 
above, one thousand dollars more were granted to the 
committee at St. Petersburg. 

To procure and distribute the Scriptures in Sweden, 
under the direction of the Rev. George Scott, the sum 
of one thousand five hundred dollars was paid. 

The following year, to the St. Petersburg committee 
were sent one thousand dollars. The appropriation 
was designed to be employed in purchasing the Scrip- 
tures in Reval-Esthonian and other tongues, for the 
destitute congregations in Livonia and Esthonia. 

The succeeding year, from the Report of the British 
and Foreign Bible Society, we learn that forty thou- 
sand destitute families had been supplied with the 
Scriptures. 

In 1847, the board sent to Russia the sum of two 
thousand dollars, to be expended as above stated. 
The books distributed by the funds of the society were 
mostly in the provinces of Esthonia and Livonia. 
The committee under whose direction they were cir- 
culated, after speaking of the success of the cause in 
Finland, adds : 

" Scarcely less interesting is the religious aspect of 
Esthonia, whose population has manifested for years 



BIBLE IN RUSSIA. 291 

past tne utmost eagerness for the possession of the pre- 
cious volume of God's Word. At the sole charge of 
the American Bible Society, thirteen thousand copies 
have been distributed since 1841, and a very large, if 
not an equal number, by the British and Foreign Bible 
Society. Our brethren of the American society hav- 
ing expressed a desire that the Baltic provinces should 
be their peculiar sphere of labor, we have for some 
time past supplied both Esthonia and Livonia with 
the Holy Scriptures, from funds placed by them at our 
disposal. The latter province presents a scene of pain- 
ful interest. Statistics have been furnished us, from 
which we gather that not less than fourteen thousand 
families are altogether destitute of a single copy of the 
Old or New Testament."* 

In 1848, at the expense of the American Bible So- 
ciety, there were circulated three thousand eight hund- 
red and twenty copies of the Scriptures in Russia. 

Through the British and Foreign Bible Society, 
which has an agent at St. Petersburg, several trans- 
lations have been made for the various languages in 
that vast empire ; and the time is no doubt near at 
hand when it may be said of Russia, as of every other 
country in the world, the people all are permitted to 
read "the wonderful works of God in their own tongue 
in which they were born." 

May God, in the dispensations of his providence and 
grace, usher on that day. 

* An appropriation has since been made for publishing the Rival Esthonian 
New Testament. 



292 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

AN APPEAL TO THE FRIENDS OF THE BIBLE. 

With our present knowledge of the contents of the 
sacred Oracles, and the conviction of their importance 
as a source of instruction in all the essential depart- 
ments of faith and duty as connected with our present 
happiness and everlasting welfare, were we to suppose 
for a moment, hy way of illustration, tha^ there was 
but one single copy of this sacred Book in existence, 
with what eagerness would we desire to gaze upon its 
wondrous pages ! 

What pilgrimages from every land would be made 
to that holy shrine, and what multitudes would flock 
to see the Book of God and hear its divine revelations ! 

The oracle of Apollo at Delphos, the tomb of Moham- 
med at Mecca, and the car of Juggernaut at Orissa, visit- 
ed in other times by almost countless thousands of dev- 
otees, would be outnumbered by the hosts that would 
cover the plains and darken the mountains of that land 
which held the ''living Oracles" of the ''living God." 

The oracle of Apollo has ceased its responses, the 
temple is in ruins, and the pythoness has departed. 
The ashes of the prophet have lost their power to 
charm, and the Mussulman seeks not, as of old, to bow 
at the shrine of him who conquered by the sword. 

The Hindoo, who vainly thought that death with- 
in ten miles of Orissa, which contained the car of his 
bloody god, was a certain passport to heaven, no lon- 
ger risks his life to traverse burning deserts nor joins 
the shout of wild and hideous revelry as the car of 
death rolls on. 



APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 293 

The Scriptures of Confucius, the Zendavesta of 
Zoroaster, the Hieroglyphics of the Thaumaturgists, 
the Shasters of the priests of India, the Koran of Mo- 
hammed, the funeral pile, the sacred waters, whether 
of Ganges or Ilissus, have all hecome powerless, and, 
as the old, time-decayed monuments of ancient super- 
stition, they are passing away. 

Now, when the lurid twilight of pagan mythology 
has ceased to satisfy, and has left its votaries to wan- 
der in hewilderment, the Sun of righteousness, as it 
shines in peerless majesty through the Gospel of salva- 
tion, is ascending the meridian, and shedding ahroad 
its light and heat to illumine the remotest corners of 
the realm of night, to reanimate and gladden the na- 
tions still prostrate in the region and shadow of death y 
and even hlank and cheerless infidelity, to its own dis- 
may and confusion, has evoked the light of science 
from the deepest recesses of earth and the gem-set can- 
opy of heaven only to confirm the truth of Bihle the- 
ology and stamp its origin Divine. 

We are not called upon to contemplate the Bihle as 
an oracle, magnificently resting in the temple of some 
far-distant land only accessible to the pilgrim ; it has 
" grown, and prevailed," and multiplied, until its mill- 
ions of fac similes have found a place and yield a clear 
response to every inquirer in every land. Nor is it 
the less precious because it has hecome thus plenti- 
ful. The light is not the less pleasant and beautiful 
to behold because it pours its wide, difiusing ray on 
every mountain and plain, and ocean and river. Nor 
is the glorious moral sun " which Mercy took from off 
the throne" less precious because its beams enlighten 
every nation, and its glad tidings break in melody 
upon every ear. 

As it is in nature, so it is in grace and providence, 
our most valuable blessings are the most common and 



294 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

universal ; but is this a reason why the Giver and the 
gift should be less esteemed ? Eather let the value 
of the one increase our respect and love for the other, 
until, in the blessings of our God, we shall constantly 
behold the evidences of a love enough to make " the 
rocks and hills break their everlasting silence." 

The time was when the Jews, to whom were com- 
mitted the living Oracles, lost them as they lost their 
temple and its sacred vessels. The very language in 
which they were written was also passing away. 
Darkness was in all their dwellings and synagogues, 
like that which hung over Egypt on the fearful day 
of its curse. It was a gloomy, starless night to the de- 
scendants of Israel. " The law and the testimony" 
were buried amid the ruins of their most holy place. 
The Oracle was gone, the Ark was taken, and the 
Urim and Thunimim had lost their power. But the 
same hand that wrote its everlasting law upon tables 
of stone, preserved it from the touch of the destroyer 
until piety could again take it from the hiding-place, 
and cause it to be read in the presence of all the 
people. 

When, at the conflagration of the Alexandrian li- 
brary, which contained in its alcoves the literature of 
the world, it fell a victim to the torch of the incendi- 
ary, unlike the works of renowned authors of antiqui- 
ty, it was not destroyed. The synagogues of Judea 
contained the sacred Treasure. 

Its divine Author preserved it during the centuries 
of pagan and Christian darkness through which it 
passed, and through all the fires of the persecution to 
which it has been subjected, until it has become the 
most plentiful and accessible of all books in the world. 

Prophecy and fact are remarkably coincident in re- 
gard to the Bible : " The Word of our God shall stand 
forever ;" it " shall cover the earth as the waters cover 



APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 295 

the sea;" "shall have free course and be glorified;" 
" shall not return void," hut shall fill the earth with 
fruitfulness, while songs and everlasting joy shall fol- 
low its glorious way ! 

To those who are the friends of the Bible, believing 
in its pre-eminent importance, and tracing the move- 
ments of the divine Hand in its production, preserva- 
tion, and difiusion abroad, what becomes obviously 
their duty in regard to it? To possess it ourselves ; to 
read, mark, learn, believe, and practice what it teaches, 
is evidently our duty. But duty stops not there. It 
inculcates a regard for others equivalent to the love 
we bear for ourselves, and assures us that " to do good 
and to communicate" thrill the mind of God himself 
with pleasurable emotions. 

The term neighbor has a world-wide signification. 
Cast in the scanty mold of some minds, it extends 
but a step from the threshold of our own habitation ; 
but in the light of true Christian charity, it is bound- 
less as the wants and woes of humanity. Difiusive as 
the light of heaven. Christian charity shines on all, 
and blesses all on whom it shines. 

If it subjects him to the charge of a " denial of the 
faith and a gross infidelity" who provides not for the 
spiritual wants of his own household, he who with- 
holds what his Lord rightfully demands is not only an 
infidel in heart, but a " rohher of God^^ and the very 
blessings of Heaven will turn to curses in his hand. 
Those who seek to save that which should have been 
given to the Lord for the promotion of his cause and 
kingdom on earth, must sufi'er its loss ; and if not with 
it the loss of his own soul, it will be because of his 
hearty repentance and true faith in turning to God. 

What is given to the Lord is '' a treasure laid up in 
heaven that moth can not rust, nor thieves break 
through and steal ;" and it will be all we shall possess 



296 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

when we come to die. The ownership in every thing 
else must he relinquished then ; that is invested in the 
treasury of Heaven, the profits of which will accumu- 
late forever. 

It is this that the Savior denominates a riches to- 
ward God. 

Possessing the distinguished hlessing of the Gospel 
in such rich ahundance, the claims of God are on us to 
send it to the destitute. 

There is a fearful amount of incredulity in the world, 
and not a little in the Church, in regard to the desti- 
tution of the Word of God in our own country ; and 
many are disposed to think that, in a land of Bihles, 
emphatically so speaking, there certainly can not he 
many that are destitute ; and even if such could he 
found, so cheap are the Scriptures, and so easy of ac- 
cess in all parts of the country, that Christian chari- 
ty does not require any specific action in relation 
thereto. 

A reference to a few facts will show that notwith- 
standing the American Bihle Society has heen in 
operation for thirty-three years, during which time it 
has circulated nearly five millions of copies of the 
Scriptures in the different states and territories of the 
Union, yet, startling as it may appear, there is at this 
moment a greater destitution in this country than 
there was when the first Bihle was issued from the 
society's press. 

Twenty years ago a resolution to supply the United 
States in two years was unanimously adopted hy the 
parent society, and concurred in hy the auxiliaries. 
Bihle associations went vigorously to work, copies 
were scattered hy the million all through the length 
and hreadth of the land, and the work was done — 
every family was reported as supplied. 

Explorations were recommenced a few years after- 



APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 297 

ward, and it was ascertained that the destitution was 
as great as ever. 

An array of facts could easily he presented, show- 
ing that, in consequence of the increase of population, 
the creation of new families, and the influx of foreign- 
ers, the destitution absolutely increases instead of be- 
ing lessened every year. A few will suffice. 

Take the State of Massachusetts, the landing-place 
and home of the Puritan, where — as beautifully illus- 
trated in one of the paintings in the Rotunda of the 
Capitol at Washington — the light of heaven first fell 
upon an open Bible in our beloved country, and where 
it was first baptized with the prayers, and tears, and 
blood of the purest and bravest hearts that ever beat. 
In Massachusetts, fast and firm as her granite mount- 
ains, free and boundless as her ocean waves, there are 
hundreds of families unblessed by the light of the 
written Word. 

Plymouth county, forever consecrated as the spot 
where pilgrim feet were permitted, for the first time, 
to stand upon a free soil, was explored about three 
years since, and hundreds of families were found 
without the Bible. One would think this a fancy 
sketch were it not sustained by cold New England 
facts. 

Next we come to the proud Empire State of New 
York, and we find a still greater destitution. Bight 
under the glorious shadow of the parent tree, which 
has struck deep its roots and spread out its branches, 
the leaves of which are for the healing of the nation, 
the destitute are to be found. 

Jefferson county was reported as supplied in 1830, 
when the general supply was effected. 

Five years afterward it was re-explored, and one 
thousand families were found destitute. 

After the lapse of five more years it was again can- 



298 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

vassed, and eleven hundred families were found with- 
out the Bihle. 

At the close of the next five years it was ascertain- 
ed thsbt Jifteen hundred families were in a state of Bi- 
ble destitution. 

We discover in this the clearest indication of duty 
to engage in a perpetual distribution, as the only way 
of keeping up a regular supply. 

We next pass to Virginia, denominated the " Old 
Dominion." There the destitution is as great, if not 
greater, than in any of the Northern, Eastern, or 
Western States. 

On the authority of the Rev. Mr. Poisal, the agent 
of the State Bible Society, there were fifteen thousand 
families destitute of the Scriptures in that state. In 
Western Virginia nearly one half of the white fami- 
lies were without the Bible, and this is put down as a 
low estimate by those who have made the exploration. 

Ohio, the third state in the Union, filled with an 
active and enterprising population, second to none for 
her zeal in the promotion of schools and churches, and 
among the earliest in the Bible field, there is a desti- 
tution amounting to about one fifth of the families in 
the state. 

About two thirds of the county of Clermont was 
visited, and upward of three hundred families were 
found destitute. 

We have selected the above states as representing 
the four great divisions of the Union ; and if they fur- 
nish a criterion by which the others are to be judged, 
then, at the lowest calculation, there are at this time 
three hundred and fifty thousand Protestant families 
without the blessings of God's Word. 

A period never will perhaps arrive when it can be 
said the society has fulfilled its mission, and its presses 
may stop. To keep up the supply in our own coun- 



APPEAL IN BEHALF OF THE BIBLE. 299 

try alone will require its ceaseless operations, and on 
a vastly increased scale from the present. If the esti- 
mate be a correct one, that the population of the coun- 
try increases at the rate of thirty-three per cent, every 
ten years, then in less than fifty years we shall have 
a population of one hundred millions, and they must 
have the ever-luminous revelations of the Word of 
God to guide and control them in the mighty whirl 
of human progress. 

Yast as the home field is, yet the entire world has. 
claims upon us, and we must meet the demand. God 
is preparing his way among all nations. The vast 
valley of the dead is shaken with the word of his 
mouth, and betokens a resurrection from the sleep of 
centuries. Heathen temples and idols, old systems 
of religion and superannuated forms of worship, are 
fading away, and soon will be numbered with the 
things that were. 

The signs of the times, which are but the indica- 
tions of Providence for the Church's direction, are clear 
as noonday that the world-wide field is white unto 
harvest. A few years ago, and many of the most in- 
teresting portions of the heathen world were inaccessi- 
ble to the light of Divine Revelation ; now, there is 
not a heathen country under heaven where it has not 
an unrestricted circulation. 

To the three hundred thousand dollars which have 
been expended by the society to translate, print, and 
circulate the Scriptures in foreign lands, must be add- 
ed millions before the world is supplied. A general 
desire is awakened in all lands for the Word of Life. 
The cry for help comes up from every valley, echoes 
from every mountain, resounds from every shore, is 
borne on every breeze, and he must be either a stupid 
or heartless Christian who has no ear for that cry, and 
no hand to extend to them the means of salvation. 



300 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

We admit the importance of the missionary enter- 
prise in all its length and breadth, but the details of 
this book will show most conclusively that the Bible 
is the great and leading star in the world's conversion. 
A missionary may enter a heathen land, mingle with 
its inhabitants, and learn their language, but, unless 
he have for them a vernacular Bible, he can accom- 
plish nothing. Without this, he would be as a minis- 
ter at a foreign court without his commission. All 
his assertions and exhortations, unbacked by the di- 
vine authority of the written Word, could be set aside 
by the mere dictum of a heathen priest. 

We only ask that the cause we advocate receive 
aid in proportion to its importance, when compared 
with all the other benevolent institutions of the 
Church, and we shall be satisfied with the result. 
We desire that the Bible may become to every nation 
as free and exhaustless as the air of the mountain or 
the water of the river. 

A traveler once, wearied and faint with the toils of 
his journey, approached a fountain on the borders of 
the desert, and he hasted with eagerness to quench his 
burning thirst with its refreshing waters. Engraved 
on a marble slab surmounting the fountain were the 
following beautiful lines : 

" Come, traveler, slake thy burning thirst, 

And drive away dull care ; 
Thou need'st not broach thy Httle purse, 

For I am free as air. 
My home is on the mountain side. 

My course is to the sea ; 
Then drink till thou art satisfied. 

Yea, drink, for I am free." 

Thus would we say to all earth's toil-worn travelers, 
fainting and dying amid the deserts of heathenism, 
come : "Ho ! every one that thirsteth, come to the wa- 



BENEFACTORS OF THE SOCIETY. 3OI 

ters, and he that hath no money, come ; yea, come, buy 
wine and milk without money and without price." 
The Bible has opened up a broad and mighty river all 
through the desert earth, on the banks of which three 
thousand missionaries stand and exclaim, 

" Ho I ye that pant for living streams, 
And pine away and die, 
Here you may quench your raging thirst 
With streams that never dry." 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

BENEFACTORS OF THE SOCIETY. 

Perhaps no benevolent society that ever existed in 
the Christian world has had more firm and reliable 
friends than the American Bible Society. Certain- 
ly there is no society in this country which has ex- 
tended its influence so widely, or enlisted to the same 
extent the sympathy and benefactions of all denom- 
inations. This, however, might have been expected 
from its catholic nature, and the objects contemplated 
in its organization. Other institutions are more or 
less of a denominational, not to say sectarian, char- 
acter, and consequently are more restricted in their 
operations, and the sympathy and aid which they 
elicit are necessarily of a more sectarian cast ; but 
the American Bible Society ignores all local preju- 
dices, sectional peculiarities, and denominational pref- 
erences, constituting a broader platform than any oth- 
er society can present, embrace they ever so wide a 
latitude in their name and object. We have the Amer- 
ican Sunday School Union, the American Tract Soci- 
ety, American Education Society, American and For- 



302 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

eign Christian Union, American Colonization Society, 
and the American and Foreign Bible Society; but all 
know that these various societies, however catholic 
their name or benevolent their objects, are more or 
less under the influence and control of particular de- 
nominations ; or, if not ostensibly so, are at least re- 
stricted in their operations to certain churches and 
certain sections of the country, while the American 
Bible Society takes in its broad, catholic sweep every 
church, and all sections of our own and foreign coun- 
tries. It has formed an alliance with none, and yet 
claims aii alliance and brotherhood with all Christian 
sects, denominations, and societies which aim at the 
elevation and salvation of man. 

From its earliest history it has enrolled among its 
members fast and unwavering friends from all denom- 
inations. Carefully keeping out every thing from its 
principles and policy that might, by any possibility, 
be construed into the semblance of a sectarian feat- 
ure, it has moved on silently and unostentatiously in 
its way, distributing the Word of Life, and increasing 
in strength and influence, until now, after the lapse 
of nearly half a century, it has grown up to giant 
manhood, and, stretching out its broad, strong arms 
over every land, it occupies a position in the evan- 
gelization of the world more elevated and powerful 
than all other benevolent agencies combined. Through 
its agency broad channels have been opened in this 
and other countries for the circulation of the waters 
of life, and they are now pouring their incessant liv- 
ing streams through all places of the thirsty land. 
Even some portions of the world that were given 
over, and regarded as irreclaimable as the desert, have 
been made to bud and blossom as the rose. It is the 
angel in mid-heaven, on its wing with the everlasting 



BENEFACTORS OF THE SOCIETY. 303 

Gospel for distant nations ; nor will it return until 
its mission is accomplished. 

We wonder not that a cause like this has so many 
and benevolent friends ; the only wonder is that the 
number is not tenfold greater, and that, instead of 
the benefactions amounting to millions, they have not 
swelled to billions. If every man must have the Gos- 
pel, and read in his own tongue in which he was born 
the wonderful works of God, the duty of the Chris- 
tian world will not be performed until all mankind 
are thus brought to know the Lord, from the least to 
the greatest, and the whole earth filled with the 
knowledge of his glory as the waters cover the sea. 

It would be a pleasing task to give in this connec- 
tion a biographical sketch of some of the more early 
friends and benefactors of the society, who, though 
dead, yet through then* good works speak to the liv- 
ing. Many of them have long since passed away ; 
but the Bibles which their benevolence started into 
being have become the bread of life to thousands. 
If it be true that ''the evil which men do lives after 
them, "it is equally true that good works of men sur- 
vive, and mil be to them a perpetual memorial. 
While the name and memory of that man who lived 
for self, and cared not for the wants and woes of the 
destitute around him, shall rot, though his body be 
entombed in the most magnificent mausoleum of brass 
or marble, the name and memory of the benevolent 
"shall be had in everlasting remembrance;" and, 
though not a stone be raised nor a line carved to mark 
the place of his sepulture, nor a single page of history 
record his deeds of benevolence, his memory will be 
embalmed in the hearts of thousands, and his name 
go down, a household word, to succeeding generations. 

Pleasant and interesting though it might be to fur- 



304 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

nish such biographical sketches, we have been unable 
to gather the necessary materials, and our readers 
must be content with a very brief sketch or two of 
the benefactors. First on the list stands the name 
— clarum et venerahile nomen — of Elias Boudinot, 
LL.D., who was born in the city of Philadelphia in 
the year 1740. He Avas distantly connected with the 
Huguenots, his great-grandfather being one of that 
oppressed and persecuted sect, who, on the revocation 
of the Edict of Nantes, were obliged to flee their 
country. Young Boudinot received at home a good 
academic education, and from thence went to Prince- 
ton, where he graduated. On leaving college, he en- 
tered the law office of the celebrated Richard Stock- 
ton, and devoted a number of years to the study of 
law and general literature. In due course of time 
he was admitted to the bar, and removed to Burling- 
ton, New Jersey, where he entered at once upon the 
practice of his profession. Such was the force of his 
natural talents, associated with his devotion to study, 
that he early rose to distinction, and acquired an en- 
viable reputation both as an advocate and a counsel- 
or at law. The American cause, which subsequently 
resulted in the war of the Revolution, was then de- 
veloping itself, and he early identified himself with 
it, firmly convinced of its justice, and resolving to 
share in its conflicts. 

In 1771, he was appointed by Congress Commis- 
sary-general of Provisions, a duty which he discharged 
with great fidelity. The same year he was elected 
Member of Congress, and retained his seat during the 
whole period of the war. In 1782 he was elected 
President of Congress, and while occupying that dis- 
tinguished office he affixed his signature to the treaty 
of peace between the United States and Great Brit- 



BENEFACTORS OF THE SOCIETY. 305 

ain. Peace being established, he returned to his 
home, and resumed the practice of his profession, in 
the prosecution of Avhich, however, he was not suffer- 
ed long to remain, as the services of such a man were 
too valuable to the country to allow him to remain 
in comparative obscurity ; and hence, in 1790, we find 
him again elected to a seat in the national Legislature, 
where he remained for a period of six years. Sub- 
sequently he was appointed by Washington Director 
of the United States Mint, as the successor of Mr. 
Eittenhouse. For a period of nine years, at the ex- 
piration of which he resigned his office, he attended 
faithfully and punctually to all its duties, after which 
he returned to the bosom of his family, declining all 
farther solicitation of his friends to engage again in 
public life. His attention was now turned more par- 
ticularly to those great religious movements which 
were most adapted to advance the happiness of his 
fellow-men. He was elected a member of the Board 
of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and, as we 
have seen, was the first President of the American 
Bible Society. During his life he made many mu- 
nificent benefactions to various benevolent objects, 
and at his death, which occurred October 24th, 1824, 
he left large sums for the purposes of education, Bi- 
ble distribution, and missions, amounting to upward 
of fifty thousand dollars. 

The names of Douglass, of Scotland, Barr, and 
Marsh, and Waldo, and Pomeroy, and Shackford, and 
Welsh, and Richardson, and Peed, and numerous oth- 
ers, in this country, who made large bequests, will 
long live in the history of the society ; but we can 
not enumerate, mu<ih less sketch, their lives and acts, 
and must close this chapter by a brief sketch of one 
of the later benefactors of the society — Mr. Abner 

U 



306 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

M'Gehee, who was born in 1779, in Virginia, and 
reared in Georgia. His life is graphically and elo- 
quently sketched by Dr. Lipscomb, of Alabama, who 
says : "The moral and spiritual interests of the world 
bore weightily upon him, and hence his avidity to 
promote the circulation of the Bible. With him the 
Bible was the sum and substance of all moral and 
spiritual benevolence. It was the prophet, the apos- 
tle, the preacher, the saint, all in one, and in this 
view he appropriated about seventy-five thousand 
dollars for the advancement of its cause. And what 
nobler benevolence could awaken the liberality and 
zeal of a true man, a true philanthropist, a true 
Christian ? A free Bible — an open Bible — a Bible 
for every house : what is that but munificence, teach- 
ing at the fireside and in the family circle, and om- 
nipotence in lifting up the low, the outcast, the neg- 
lected, to the conscious dignity of mindful life, and 
the blessed opportunities of a Divine inheritance. 
The best charity is ordinarily that which arouses its 
object to befriend himself. It does not do his work, 
but it puts him in the way to do it. And what effects 
this like the Bible ? So Mr. M'Gehee reasoned, felt, 
and acted. Here, in our midst, is one of his monu- 
ments : what marble shaft could tell the story of his 
life and character like that ? 

"The great orator of New England, commemorat- 
ing the virtues of illustrious patriots, catches the dy- 
ing strains of the anthem that celebrates their patriot- 
ic worth, and, in a tone more eloquent than music, 
repeats the words, 'Their name liveth evermore.' 

"Here, too, in a small city, stands a simple monu- 
ment which neither music nor genius has consecrated, 
but it speaks of a name that 'liveth evermore.' '//e, 
being dead, yet. speaketh.'' Husband, father, friend, 



AGENCIES. 307 

philanthropist, gone, but not into silence, for ' he yet 
speaketh.' Dust to dust, ashes to ashes; but the 
enshrouded hand is still extended to give the Bible. 
'Liveth evermore!' O wondrous life — life in heav- 
en — life on earth, in the wedlock of beauty, truth, and 
goodness." 

Legacies have been received by the society from 
upward of a thousand persons, in different parts of 
the country, during its existence, amounting to near 
half a million of dollars. 



CHAPTER XXXIL 

AGENCIES. 



The appointment of agents early engrossed the at- 
tention of the Board of Managers. 

No society, perhaps, ever labored more assiduously to 
forward its interests, without fee or reward, than did 
the American Bible Society. For several years all its 
business was conducted without the employment of 
an agent, nor did the managers adopt this policy until 
every other measure was exhausted. 

The importance of having some one to organize aux- 
iliary societies, and keep them in existence and action 
when organized, was early felt, and the repeated neg- 
lect of many auxiliaries to hold meetings, take up 
collections, explore and supply their respective fields, 
was equally deplored. 

To obviate this difficulty, an Auxiliary Committee 
was appointed, whose duty it was, as far as practicable, 
to attend the anniversaries, or depute some one to at- 
tend. They were authorized to pay the expenses of 
such representatives, and urged to use their utmost en- 
deavors to stimulate the societies to increased exertion. 



308 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

This committee addressed various circulars to differ- 
ent parts of the country, many of which remained dead 
in the offices, and but few produced the desired effect. 
The following is one of those circulars : 

" Gentlemen, 

" The undersigned are a committee appointed by the managers of 
the American Bible Society in order to increase the number and ani- 
mate the efforts of its auxiHaries. 

" We trust that it is not necessary to dwell on the benefits resulting 
from this national institution. The simplicity of its object, and the 
comprehensiveness of its plan, must commend it to the approbation of 
every observer. Its ' sole object is to encourage a wider circulation of 
the Holy Scriptures without note or comment ;' and it admits to equal 
privileges Christians of every religious denomination. Its effect has 
already been felt in the growth of that catholic charity which is an or- 
nament to the Christian name, in the production of that mutual good- 
will between the most distant parts of our land, which promises to be 
a blessing both to the country as such, and to the Church which God 
has planted in it, and in the spread of the Bible to thousands who were 
formerly destitute of this sacred Volume. 

"It is very evident, however, that the abilities of this institution to 
render its blessing permanently and extensively felt must depend on the 
number and activity of its tributary institutions. Although the British 
and Foreign Bible Society is patronized by many who are distinguish- 
ed for the elevation of their rank and the abundance of their wealth, 
yet is the proportion of five sixths of their vast income annually derived 
from auxiliary societies and Bible associations ; and if ever the Amer- 
ican Bible Society is to become equally distinguished for zeal and suc- 
cess, it too must depend on the aid furnished from similar sources as its 
great means of replenishing its treasury. At tlie same time, it should 
be observed, that auxiliaries are equally necessary for the wise and eco- 
nomical distribution of the Scriptures themselves. Experience has con- 
vinced the Board of Managers that in ordinary cases, occurring within 
the United States, it is inconsistent with the best interest of the socie- 
ty to distribute the Bible gratuitously, except through the medium of 
auxiliary societies ; and of course it is hoped that, in the most impov- 
erished and destitute parts of our country, auxiliaries may be formed as 
means of sharing in the bounty of the national institution ; and in those 
regions where auxiliaries may have funds sufficient to pay for the Bi- 
bles they may need to supply the destitute within their reach, their use- 
fulness, as organs of distribution, must be obvious ; for they alone can 
form a just opinion as to the extent of the existing wants, and the best 
means of furnishing a supply. 



AGENCIES. 309 

*' To these general observations we beg leave to subjoin the follow- 
ing summary of regulations adopted by the Board of Managers of the 
American Bible Society in relation to auxiUaries. 

" ' All such Bible societies as shall agree to place their surplus rev- 
enue, after supplying their own districts with Bibles, at the disposal of 
this society, shall be considered auxiliary ; and the members of such 
societies shall be entitled to vote in all meetings of this, and the officers 
of such societies shall be, ex officio, directors of this. 

" 'Every auxiliary will determine for itself what is their surplus rev- 
enue after supplying their own wants ; but that revenue, when given, 
remains at the sole disposal of the managers ; who will, however, 
thankfully receive any recommendation as to the best way of disposing 
of it, reserving to themselves the right of adoptmg or rejecting the rec- 
ommendation. 

" 'Any society becoming auxiliary has a right of withdrawing from 
the connection when it sees fit so to do. 

" 'Bibles are sold at cost prices to any Bible society not auxiliary, and 
at a deduction of five per cent, from said cost prices to societies that are' 
auxiliary. 

" 'No society is considered as an auxiliary to this which shall unite 
any other object with that of circulating the Scriptures without note or 
comment. 

" 'The auxiliaries now in existence, and those hereafter to be form- 
ed, are desired to transmit their annual reports to the parent institution 
before the first of March in each year, in order to afford the opportuni- 
ty of embodying the information so communicated in the aim.ual reports 
of this board.' 

" For any further information which you may desire on the subject, 
we would refer you to the annual reports, and the quarterly extracts 
from the correspondence of the board ; from all which you will see that 
the sole object of the American Bible Society is to spread the sacred 
Volume on such terms and to such extent that neither rich nor poor 
shall be found without the Oracles of Life. 

" Hoping that you wiU see fit to unite with us in this good cause, in 
such way as to you shall seem most expedient, we are, gentlemen, your 
obedient servants, 

" J. M. Matthews, -n 

" Joshua Soule, I 

" Peter A. Jay, )> Committee." 

"Theodore Dwight, | 

" John Cauldwell, J 

In 1820 the committee were instructed, as the last 
resort, to make inquiry in regard to the obtaining suit- 



310 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

able persons to act as traveling agents of the society. 
The managers were encouraged to this by reading the 
annals of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which 
furnished ample proof of the efficacy of such a policy. 

In 1822, agents were appointed by the board, who 
labored successfully in organizing auxiliaries in the 
District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, and North 
Carolina. Having thus before them a demonstration 
of the importance of such agencies, and following the 
example of their illustrious prototype, they determined 
on continuing them in the field. 

An agent was appointed at this time to visit the 
Southern and AVestern States. In 1823 two more were 
appointed, one to labor in the North and East, and the 
other in the South and West. 

Two were appointed the succeeding year, to labor in 
difierent places. 

They were also reappointed in 1825. 

The succeeding year four were appointed. 

The importance of having agents who should de- 
vote their whole time exclusively to the work being 
no longer regarded by the board as problematical — 
their experience having demonstrated beyond all ques- 
tion that if they were evils they were necessary evils — 
from this time forward they were regularly appointed 
as the wants of the country seemed to demand, and 
the circumstances of the society would justify. 

These agents are selected from the different denom- 
inations represented in the society, and are appointed 
by the agency committee, after having been previous- 
ly recommended by the secretaries. 

Specific instructions are given them for the direction 
of their movements, to which they are required faith- 
fully to adhere. The following is an extract from those 
instructions : 

" In entering on your agency, you will find that your main business 



AGENCIES. 311 

is with auxiliaiy Bible societies ; either the formation of new ones, or 
the reviving of those akeady formed. The appendix of the annual re- 
port will show you where societies now exist, and your map where they 
are still wanting. Most of the auxiliaries now formed embrace a sin- 
gle county, some nearly a whole state, and some a mere village or town- 
ship ; some have many members, others but few ; some are much in 
debt for books, others a little, others none at all ; some can every year 
make liberal donations, some can barely supply their own wants, and 
others stand in need of assistance. In visiting a society, therefore, 
your first business will be to learn its exact present condition. This 
can be done by calling on its officers, and then on ministers of the Gos- 
pel and other men of candor and intelligence connected with it. (In 
forming a new auxiliary, inquire whether it should be a county society, 
or one for a central village and vicinity, taking in several contiguous 
counties.) 

" If the society is in debt for books, learn the reason ivhy payment 
for them has not been made, and what the prospect is that they will 
be paid for hereafter. Where is the money to come from by which 
they are to be paid for ? From branch societies, from annual subscrip- 
tions, congregational donations, or from returns for books sold on cred- 
it ? Is the debt so great as to embarrass the society, and to prevent its 
ordering other books which are needed ? If the parent society were to 
cancel a part of the debt due, would the auxiliary make a speedy ef- 
fort and pay the other part ? Or if the auxihary were to receive a do- 
nation of books, could these be sold, and money thus be raised, and the 
%oliole debt paid ? After judicious, thorough inquiry, try to inform us 
what wise arrangement can be made for the early settlement of the 
debt of each society owing us which you may visit. 

" When the debt of each society visited is seen to, and provision made 
for its settlement, your next inquiry will be, what can be done toward 
exciting the same to new efforts in procuring and distributing Bibles ? 
Many societies which supphed their destitute families six or eight years 
ago, have scarcely bought or distributed a Bible since. Such must 
again be surrounded with destitute households, and many more large 
families can have but one small Bible. Something effectual ought here 
to be done. The officers and managers of the auxiliaries should at 
once commence a re-supply of their districts, and in a systematic, thor- 
ough manner. 

" When a new society is to be formed, you should previously visit 
different parts of the field to be included, and interest as many as possi- 
ble by calls on individuals and families, and by small preliminary meet- 
ings ; and then, by notices on the Sabbath and in the papers, fix the 
time and place for a public meeting. At this meeting state clearly 



312 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

and fully the objects and advantages of a Bible society; let a few other 
brief addresses be made ; then read and adopt a Constitution, choose of- 
ficers, and open a subscription on the spot. It is generally the best 
way to allow all subscribers of any sum to become members. When 
the society is formed, the secretary of the same should be instructed to 
give immediate notice of this fact to the parent society. He should 
give assurance that the sole object of the auxiliary is to circulate the 
Scriptures ' without note or comment,' and to pay over its ' surplus 
funds' to the parent society. He should give also the name and post- 
office address of the president, corresponding secretary, and treasurer, 
with their usual titles. Try to make the secretary of the auxiliary 
understand this, and make all the officers feel that the prosperity of the 
society depends mainly on them. Societies which die, usually die for 
want of work marked out by their overseers. 

" Should there be some counties in the new settlements where no 
auxiliaries can yet be formed for want of materials, pains should be 
taken to induce some contiguous auxiliary to visit and supply the des- 
titute in such places. Books should be solicited of the parent society, 
if necessary, for that purpose. A few energetic Christian men, on a 
given day or week, might take a quantity of Bibles, and go through 
and supply such a county, and the good done would be incalculable. 
This plan must often be adopted in the new settlements. Agents at 
the West and South are particularly requested to attend to this sug- 
gestion. 

" In some populous counties you will find it advantageous to form 
branch societies in connection with large auxiliaries. These branches 
can be formed in townships or in congregations. Discretion should be 
used in forming them, as they are prone to languish and die unless there 
is a good number of acting individuals to sustain them. In some coun- 
ties a few branches can now be formed, and the way left open for oth- 
ers to be formed a few years hence. Whenever they are formed, no- 
tice should be given to the secretary of the county auxiliary to which 
they belong, and he should forward the name of the secretary of each 
branch to the parent society, so that the monthly extracts may be sent 
to him. The annual meetings of the branches should occur a few 
weeks previous to the meeting of the county auxiliary, and should be 
attended by delegates from the latter, if possible. 

" When the situation of a township or congregation will not justify 
the formation of a branch society, a local committee of three or five of 
the best individuals should be substituted in place, and which commit- 
tee should meet often, collect funds, receive and distribute books, and 
make returns in the same manner as is done by a branch society. This 
committee will be more efficient for the present than the branch socie- 



AGENCIES. 313 

ty, and will, in time, grow into such a society. In some places, perhaps 
a single active person should be appointed as a local agent, keeping a 
supply of books on hand, and making collections of money when prac- 
ticable. 

'' Inquire always as you go through a county whether Sunday school 
children are supplied with the Bible or New Testament. Some coun- 
ty societies are placing one of these Testaments in the hands of every 
child in the county between eight and sixteen years of age, and our 
board wish all societies to do the same, according to a resolution of the 
American Bible Society three years since. Testaments can be had 
at six and a quarter cents, and Bibles at twenty-five cents for this pur- 
pose. "When Sunday schools of any denomination are in want of Bi- 
bles or Testaments, they should apply to the Depository of the Bible 
Society for that region. If the local society is not able to purchase 
them, the secretary of the same should apply to the parent society for a 
grant. 

" In some counties you should inquire what can be done toward rais- 
ing funds for the general distribution of the Bible in our own and for" 
eign countries. Can some specific amount be raised annually for this 
purpose ? Are all the ministers within the bounds of the society life 
members of the American Bible Society ? Can not some who are life 
members by payment of thirty dollars, be made life directors by pay- 
ment of one hundred and twenty dollars more ? Are there not some 
wealthy and benevolent laymen who will become life directors or life 
members ? Aim, wherever you go, to give a permanency to all aux- 
iliaries — to make them feel that they are to act from year to year. 
The wants of our own growing population will never cease, and we 
have several of our Indian tribes, Spanish America, Brazil, France, 
Spain, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Bombay, Ceylon, Siam, China, and the 
Sandwich Islands, where the Word of God is sought with a constantly 
increasing avidity. The managers need many thousand dollars this 
moment to aid foreign distribution, and ought to raise more and more 
every year for this object. No society must think of relaxing its ef- 
forts until the world is supplied with the Bible. Try to impress this 
truth deeply on every auxiliary. Missions are now so far advanced 
that they must, in the future, make greater and greater demands for 
means to print the new translations made. 

" The managers are trying to establish a more permanent system of 
agencies than they have hitherto had. Their design is to have the 
whole country divided into districts, each containing one or more states, 
and to establish in each district a good agent. They design also to 
have an auxiliary society in each county, and have the anniversary of 
these auxiliaries occur in such successive order that the agent can at- 



314 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

tend them all. Try to prepare tlie way for such a system where you 
are located. 

" You will frequently find auxiliaries which have funds on hand 
which they wish to remit to the parent society. If these funds are re- 
ceived by you to forward, very great pains should he taken to give us 
an early account of them, in a clear, business-like manner, so that we 
can be in no doubt as to what each dollar is for, and from whence it 
comes. Let us have names, dates, and post-office addresses, so that 
we can acknowledge all receipts correctly by private letter or through 
the Bible Society Record. 

"It is required that every agent write once a month to the parent 
society. In doing this, you can condense your journal, and thus give us 
a view of your proceedings, of interesting incidents, good effects of the 
Bible and Bible societies, objections to the Bible cause, and kinds of 
opposition met with, so that parts of this journal can be published. 

" It sometimes occurs that the publications of the society are not 
taken from the post-offices where they are sent, and yet no notice is 
given of an unwillingness to receive them. The committee wish the 
secretary of every auxiliary to be urged to give annual information on 
this subject ; to inform us who do and who do not take the Record and 
Reports ; and to inform us of deaths, and of removals to other places of 
such as are entitled to them. 

" Inquiries are sometimes made whether it is the desire of the board 
that auxiliaries should sell Bibles and Testaments when furnished them 
gratuitously. The committee would say that such is the wish of the 
board, except in cases where the destitute are unable to buy. A pur- 
chased Bible is generally more valued and read than one which costs 
nothing. Moneys arising in this way should be used in procuring more 
books, or sent to the parent society as a donation to make others. 

" Some auxiliaries sell their books, when purchased, at a much high- 
er price than others. It is desirable that there should be uniformity 
in this respect, and a good rule is to sell them for cost and charges. 

" It is sometimes asked whether auxiliaries ought to sell books to 
those who are not members. They are not bound, of course, to do so, 
but yet good would often be done by allowing those who will not be- 
come members to buy, as such kindness may perhaps lead them event- 
ually to become members. 

"While engaged in your agency you will frequently be called to 
preach, or make addresses on the Sabbath, and sometimes, perhaps, on 
common topics as well as on your special business. In all cases it is 
expected that you will be careful to avoid any of the peculiarities of 
denomination, and dwell on those great essential truths of religion in 
which all the evangelical unite. The Bible cause has no sectarian 



AGENCIES. 315 

character, and its agents should give it none, either by their public 
speaking or conversation. All metaphysical, sectional, ecclesiastical, 
or political topics, which divide the opinions even of many good men, 
are to be avoided by those whose great business is to circulate the Word 
of God as it was received from heaven. Try to produce harmony, for- 
bearance, and kindness among different denominations, by treating all 
who have the Christian spirit as members of the same great family, 
and expectants of the same inheritance in their Father's house on high. 
You can not feel too deeply the importance of your work, and the ne- 
cessity of looking continually to the Great Author of the Bible for wis- 
dom and strength. Without his aid you will do little to any valuable 
purpose ; with liis grace assisting, you can do all things well. Cher- 
ish habitually a modest, prudent. Christian spirit, which, with an en- 
tire devotedness to the business of your agency, will be the best recom- 
mendation both of yourself and your object among all the good people 
whom you may visit. 

" With these suggestions, the committee would sincerely commend 
you to the guidance of our heavenly Father, praying that He would 
open the way, through your instrumentality, for the wide diffusion of 
the Holy Scriptures, which are able, through faith, to make men wise 
unto salvation. 

" With affectionate regard, they subscribe themselves your obedient 
friends and brethren." 

The above instructions from the Committee on Agen- 
cies are sent to every commissioned agent in the soci- 
ety's employ. In addition to what is here specified, 
agents are expected to visit each auxiliary society in 
the bounds of their respective fields once a year, and 
keep up a correspondence with them in relation to all 
matters pertaining to the work in which they are en- 
gaged. 

The number of agents employed within the limits 
of the United States, at the present time, is thirty- 
five, including two whose appointment is special and 
temporary, and two others whose salaries and ex- 
penses are borne by auxiliary societies. 

In the month of July the Eev. Chester K Eight- 
er was appointed as the society's agent for the coun- 



316 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

tries around the east part of the Mediterranean. 
They were led to select this individual, as he had re- 
cently visited that part of the world, and had become 
deeply interested in the moral movements there go- 
ing forward. After due deliberation he accepted the 
appointment, and commenced his journey on the 5th 
of September, by the way of London, Paris, and Ge- 
neva, where he had business to transact committed to 
him by the Board. The future duties of the agent 
will be to procure materials in some instances for 
publishing the Scriptures by the missionaries, to re- 
ceive from home or to purchase such as are wanted, 
but not thus published, and then to further the work 
of distribution in all directions, personally and by 
correspondence, as far as possible. He has been cor- 
dially received by the friends of the Bible at Con- 
stantinople, where he will more generally reside. He 
has already made an interesting visit to the Crimea, 
the seat of war, where he effected many distributions 
among the soldiers, and has made arrangements for 
a visit to Greece, and other places farther east. An 
important Bible Society has been organized at Con- 
stantinople, which, though nominally connected with 
the British and Foreign Bible Society, is one in 
which Americans cordially unite, the American em- 
bassador, the Hon. Mr. Spence, being the presiding 
officer, and our agent one of its committee. Alluding 
to this union, our agent says: "We have thus form- 
ed an American alliance with the British and For- 
eign Bible Society (in which we entirely harmonize), 
to give the Bible to the nations of the East. God 
grant that, through the agencies of these two great 
and good societies, his Word may have free course 
and be glorified in all these lands." In his last let- 
ter he mentions the arrival at Constantinople of three 



AGENCIES. 317 

thousand Italian Bibles and Testaments, for the Pied- 
montese soldiers now on their way to the Crimea, and 
three thousand three hundred more, in various tongues, 
for general distribution, and that one thousand French 
Testaments were soon to arrive. He states also that 
he had held conversation with two Turkish colonels, 
which resulted in their cheerful reception each of a 
Turkish Bible. 

The Board have long been seeking for a proper 
agent to send into Spanish America. During the 
past year they have obtained the Rev. Mr. Montsal- 
vatge, who seems to have the required qualifications, 
and to promise much usefulness. This agent is a 
native of Spain — has become deeply sensible of the 
evils of the papal system, in which he was reared, 
and which he has heartily renounced. As is not al- 
ways the case with those who have renounced that 
system, he seems free from an acrimonious, vindict- 
ive spirit, and to be desirous only that the Bible, 
which has opened his own eyes to the truth, may 
open the eyes of all who are still in his former dark- 
ness. 

In December last he was sent to commence his la- 
bors in Venezuela, South America, taking with him 
a supply of Spanish Bibles and Testaments, and a 
few in other tongues. Several letters have been re- 
ceived from him, showing, as is ever the case in pa- 
pal countries, a desire on the part of the common 
people to receive the Scriptures, and yet a determ- 
ination on the part of the priesthood to prevent such 
reception ; but, notwithstanding the opposition, his 
distributions have already been large and encour- 
aging. 

But the ultimate destination of this agent is New 
Granada, where a full toleration of religion is now 



318 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

secured by law. He would have proceeded last au- 
tumn directly to Bogota, were it not that a civil com- 
motion had then just broken out there, which, it was 
expected, would soon subside. This commotion seem- 
ed to be one of the last struggles of those moved by 
the priestly power to stop the progress of religious 
liberty ; but it has been unsuccessful, and the way 
rendered the more clear for the circulation of the 
Word of God. It is expected that Mr. Montsalvatge 
will proceed to New Granada early the ensuing sum- 
mer. 

The Board have also, in the course of the year, en- 
gaged the Bev. J. C. Fletcher to act as their agent in 
Brazil, a country where he has before resided, and 
knows well what can there be accomplished. His 
purpose is to visit first Bio Janeiro and other places 
in its vicinity, including a large German colony near 
St. Catharine's. He will then proceed northward, 
through San Salvador, Pernambuco, and other towns, 
to Para, on the Amazon. From the unusual eager- 
ness with which the Portuguese seek the Scriptures, 
there is reason to expect happy results from this 
agency. 



AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 3 ][ 9 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 

At an early day the managers drew up the follow- 
ing circular, inclosing a plan for auxiliary and branch 
societies, which they addressed to the ministers and 
churches of the different religious denominations in 
the United States : 

Circular to the Clergy. 

" New York, October, 1816. ^ 
" Rev. Sir, — The Managers of the American Bible Society have di- 
rected me to send to you a copy of the Constitution of the Society, and 
of the Address of the Convention which formed it, to the people of the 
United States. 

" Trusting that this national institution will meet with your approba- 
tion, they respectfully request that you will do them the favor of read- 
ing the said Constitution and Address to your congregation from the 
pulpit, and adopt such measures as may be deemed necessary by you 
for securing a congregational collection, to aid them in their labor of 
love and work of faith. 

'■' The magnitude and catholic nature of the object they conceive will 
sufficiently apologize for the trouble which they have taken the liberty 
of giving you in this application. 

" I have the honor to be. Rev. Sir, yours respectfully, 

" John B. Romeyn, Secretary for Domestic Correspondence." 

Circular add7'essed to hidividuals. 

" New York, January 8, 1817. 
" Sir, — The Managers of the American Bible Society, deeply impress- 
ed with a sense of the magnitude of the interest committed to their 
care, and of the necessity of uniting the efforts of the friends of the in- 
stitution, in order to procure the necessary funds to enable them to pro- 
mote that interest, have directed us to address you as one of those 
friends, and request the favor of your co-operation with such persons of 
yom' county as may be willing to aid this great work of Christian char- 
ity, in forming an auxiliary society in your county, if there is not one 



320 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY 



already formed, and also as many Bible Associations in smaller dis- 
tricts as may be convenient. To save trouble, and to facilitate both 
objects, they subjoin a form of a Constitution for an auxiliary society 
and for a Bible Association, it being understood that each auxiliary so- 
ciety and association are at liberty to make such alterations in these 
forms as they may see fit. 

" As there may be among your friends and acquaintance some v^^ho 
would be willing to enroll their names among the members or contrib- 
utors to the American Bible Society, we send herewith the form of a 
heading for a paper to which such may subscribe, and pay you the 
amount of their subscription, which you will please to forward, with 
the list of the subscribers, to Richard Varick, Esq., Treasurer of the 
American Bible Society. 

" We are, respectfully, your obedient servants, 
" Matthew Clarkson, Vice-President, 
" John B. Romeyn, Secretary for Dom. Cor." 

The following is the Constitution of an 

AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY. 

I. This Society shall be called the Bible Society of , auxili- 
ary to the American Bible Society. 

II. The object of the Society shall be to promote the circulation of 
the Holy Scriptures " without note or comment," and in English 
those of the commonly received version. 

III. All persons contributing any sum to its funds shall be members 
for one year ; those contributing one dollar or more shall receive (if 
called for within twelve months) a common Bible in return ; those con- 
tributing fifteen dollars at one time, or twenty dollars at tivo pay- 
ments, shall be members for life. 

IV. All funds not wanted for circulating the Scriptures within the 
Society's own limits shall be paid over annually to the parent society, 
to aid distributions among the destitute in other parts of the country 
and in foreign lands. 

V. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, Vice-Pres- 
ident, Secretary, and Treasurer, whose duties shall be such as their re- 
spective titles import. 

VI. The management of the Society shall be intrusted to an Exec- 
utive Committee of five (or seven, including the Secretary and Treas- 
urer), which shall appoint its own Chairman and make its own By-laws. 

VII. It shall be the duty of this committee to meet frequently on 
adjournment, or on call of the Chairman, to keep a good supply of books 
on hand, to appoint local distributors, to see that collections in some 
way are made annually in every congregation, and that all funds are 



AUXILIARY SOCIETIES 



321 



forwarded early to the parent society, "v\dth a statement as to the por- 
tion designed for the payment of books and that as a free donation. 

Till. There shall be a general meeting of the Society on 

of each year, when a full report of their doings shall be presented by 
the committee (a copy of which shall be furnished the parent society), 
and when a new election of officers and committee shall take place ; 
should the Society fail of an annual meeting, the same officers and 
committee shall be continued until an election does occur. 

IX. Any Branch Society or Bible Committee formed within the 
bounds of this auxihary, by paying over its funds annually, shall receive 
Bibles and Testaments at cost prices. 

X. No alteration shall be made in this Constitution except at an 
amiual meeting, and by consent of two thirds of the members present. 

CONSTITUTION OF A BRANCH SOCIETY. 

No special plan was proposed for such a society, inasmuch as a few 
simple rules, such as the constitution of an auxiliary would suggest, 
would be sufficient, and hence a constitution was not drafted. Thcv 
Managers make the following suggestions : 

" In many parts of the country, counties are divided into separate 
to^vnships, each of which, should it be deemed advisable, can form a 
small Branch Bible Society in connection \vith the county auxihary. 
It can adopt a constitution like the one above, with such alterations as 
the difference of circumstances will suggest. The branch should collect, 
its moneys annually, and pay them over to the county auxiliary som© 
weeks previous to its anniversary. All needed books can be procured 
through the auxihary, and kept in a convenient depository. Some- 
times a single congregation can resolve itself into a Branch Bible Soci- 
ety, or appoint a Bible Committee of three, who shall collect and for- 
ward money and receive books through the county society," 

It was before stated that there were several local 
societies in existence prior to the organization of the 
national institution. The Philadelphia Bible Society, 
organized in 1808, was patronized by the most distin- 
guished names. The managers united their efforts to 
secure the connection of these societies with the gen- 
eral society. In this they were successful. During 
the first year of its existence, they received official in- 
formation from, eighty-four local societies of their wish 
and intention to become auxiliary to the parent socie- 
ty, and they were accordingly recognized as such. 

X 



322 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY 



It may not be unimportant here to state, that all 
that is required of auxiliary societies, as a condition of 
their connection AYith the parent society, is, that "they 
shall circulate the Bibles of the common version in the 
English language, and the surplus funds they may 
have, after supplying their oavii wants, shall go into 
the treasury of the parent society, for the circulation 
of the Bible among the destitute abroad." 

This condition has invariably been adhered to from 
the beginning. Several Bible societies which had a 
previous existence signified a desire to become aux- 
iliaries, but upon its being ascertained tha,t there were 
some things connected with their operations incom- 
patible with the general objects and policy of the so- 
ciety, it was unanimously resolved, in 1819, ''that no 
society could become auxiliary to the parent society 
until it gave to the board official notice that its sole 
object is to promote the circulation of the Scriptures 
without note or comment, and that it will place its 
surplus revenue, after supplying its own destitute dis- 
trict with the Scriptures, at the disposal of the Ameri- 
can Bible Society as long as it shall remain thus con- 
nected with it." 

An Auxiliary Society Committee was appointed, 
whose duty it was to devise and suggest to the Board 
of Managers such measures as in their opinion would 
promote the establishment and animate the exertions 
of auxiliaries to the parent society ; that in cases in 
which there shall not be time to receive the direction 
of the Board of Managers, the said committee shall be 
authorized to depute one or more persons to attend 
meetings for the above purposes, and to advise and 
assist therein, and, in such cases, to defray out of the 
funds of this society the necessary traveling expenses 
of the person so deputed ; and that authority be given 
the said committee to open a correspondence with the 



AUXILIARY SOCIETIjCS. 



23 



difierent parts of the country for the purpose of gaining 
all necessary information. 

The design of this committee was chiefly to ohviate 
the necessity of appointing agents, that from their 
intimate acquaintance with the auxiliaries, derived 
through extensive correspondence, they might learn 
the wants of the various districts of country, and, hy 
the occasional deputation of visitors, secure all the 
aid and information they might desire. A short 
time proved the fallacy of relying upon printed circu- 
lars and letters of instruction, and the committee rec- 
ommended the appointment of permanent agents, who 
should give their time exclusively to this work. From 
time to time the society had to hewail the dormant 
condition of the auxiliaries, and their failure from yeai" 
to year to report their proceedings. Many of them 
became largely indebted to the parent society for 
books, and, after many ineflectual efforts to secure 
payment, the claims were relinquished. In their ex- 
plorations and distributions, many of them acted with- 
out proper judgment and discrimination. Meetings 
were not held from year to year, Bibles were deposited 
with individuals here and there all over the county, 
and, instead of being sold or donated, were laid aside 
in the garret, or warehouse, or barn, as the case might 
be, exposed to the weather. 

It affords us extreme pleasure, however, to say that 
these remarks do not apply to a large majority of the 
auxiliaries, hundreds of which have from the com- 
mencement nobly and generously sustained, by their 
active zeal and liberality, the parent institution, often 
relieving it from embarrassment, and ever prompt to 
respond to all its solicitations, and faithful to carry out 
all its plans of operation. 

As powerful allies, many of them have extended 
their operations beyond their own districts, and have 



324 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

made large donations to aid in printing and circulating 
the Scriptures in foreign lands. Auxiliaries are in- 
dispensable to the existence of the society, for with- 
out them but little could be done toward supplying 
our country with the Bible. They are usually con- 
fined to a county, but in several instances embrace 
entire states. 

During the first year of the society's existence, the 
number of auxiliaries connected with it was eighty- 
four : this number has been steadily increasing from 
year to year until the present time. The last report 
shows that there are near two thousand auxiliaries 
and twenty-five hundred branches, located in all the 
states and territories of the Union. The ofiicers and 
members of these societies are composed of the various 
religious denominations, and invariably embrace the 
most intelligent and useful portion of the community 
where they are located. Many, having no connection 
with any branch of the Church of Christ, yet im- 
pressed with the importance of the enterprise, cheer- 
fully engage in it, as productive of the greatest good 
to man. Indeed, no field can be more inviting, or 
promissory of more essential good to our country, and 
one that claims the hearty co-operation of every pa- 
triot and philanthropist, than that embraced by the 
Bible Society. 

In the successful prosecution of its work all are in- 
terested, and equally interested, for whatever benefits 
our neighbor necessarily has a reflex influence upon 
ourselves. 

The various auxiliary societies are entitled to pur- 
chase Bibles and Testaments of the parent society at 
five per cent, less than cost. When they are not able 
to pay in advance for books they are allowed a credit 
of six or nine months, and when their means are lim- 
ited, and the destitution great, a donation of plain- 



AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 395 

bound copies is made to them for gratuitous distribu- 
tion. 

In the resale of books at the depositories of the 
auxiliaries, the policy of the parent society requires 
that the common Bibles and Testaments be sold at 
cost and the amount necessary to cover expenses of 
carriage, and the better qualities at an advance not 
exceeding ten per cent. 

The Annual Report of the Board of Managers is 
furnished to auxiliaries gratuitously. One copy is 
sent by mail to each corresponding secretary commu- 
nicating his annual reports regularly to the correspond- 
ing secretary of the parent society ; others are sent 
when books are ordered. 

Each auxiliary receives, also gratuitously, the " Bi-' 
ble Society Record." One copy is also sent to the 
president, corresponding secretary, and treasurer, and 
one to the secretary of each branch society. An inti- 
mate connection is thus kept up between the auxil- 
iaries and parent society ; and when the secretaries are 
prompt in forwarding their reports, each is kept ad- 
vised in regard to the operations of the other. 

In addition to county auxiliaries, efficient and val- 
uable aid has been rendered to the parent society by 
similar associations of a somewhat more specific char- 
acter, such as Female Bible Societies, College Bible 
Societies, Marine Bible Societies, Young Men's Bible 
Societies, and Bible Committees. These are located 
in various parts of the country, and many are active- 
ly engaged in promoting the general objects of the 
society. We might, did our limits permit, review the 
operations of these societies, and present many interest- 
ing facts in relation thereto. 

The ladies deserve special notice for the commend- 
able zeal manifested by them in this benevolent en- 
terprise. Much is said about the appropriate sphere 



326 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of woman. Questions have arisen in regard to the 
propriety of their engaging in any separate organiza- 
tion. In reference to the organization of a society, 
the sole ohject of which is to put the Word of God in 
the hands of the destitute, no one certainly could ex- 
clude woman. This work is peculiarly fitted to her 
nature, and assorts most beautifully with the char- 
acter given of devoted females in the days of Christ. 
To what, we ask, is woman more indebted than the 
Bible ? Rather let me ask what is her condition in 
those lands where its heavenly light does not shine, 
and its divine teachings are not known? It is the 
Bible alone that imparts to her the distinction assign- 
ed by her Maker in this world, and points to her more 
elevated destiny in that which is to come. 

The British and Foreign Bible Society acknowl- 
edges with gratitude the services of the ladies in the 
work of distribution, and it is a matter of history that 
the ladies' associations contribute more to the parent 
society than all other associations in England. 

We must not omit to mention the fact that the very 
first auxiliary society recognized by the American Bi- 
ble Society was the " Female Bible Society of New 
York" in 1816. During the first. twenty years of its 
existence it has paid over to the parent society one 
thousand dollars per annum. We might mention 
other honorable instances of efficiency and liberality, 
but we shall forbear by simply remarking, in regard 
to this society, " Many daughters have done virtuous- 
ly, but thou excellest them all." 

A mass of the most interesting facts in relation to 
the destitution in various portions of the country, em- 
bracing the cheering results of Bible distribution in 
the conversion of individuals, families, and neighbor- 
hoods, might be gleaned from the various reports, 
made from time to time to the parent society, which 
would fill a volume. 



LEGACIES. 327 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

LEGACIES. 

One of the strongest evidences of the value placed 
upon the American Bible Society by Christians is its 
remembrance by many of the most devoted in the last 
hours of life. It has testimony from living witnesses 
in all parts of the world, Christian and heathen, and 
dying witnesses have given evidence of their belief of 
its importance and their attachment to it by the con- 
secration of their property to the furtherance of its 
objects. 

Legacies had been made during the first few years 
of the society's existence, from various individuals, of 
small amount, but not the less valued on that account. 
From the organization of the society up to 1821, there 
had been received into the treasury from these sources 
$2939 75. 

The Hon. Elias Boudinot, LL.D., who had devoted 
his time, and talents, and influence in the support of 
the cause, at his death bequeathed to the society 589 
acres of valuable land. Mr. John Withington also be- 
queathed $10,000. 

In 1823, legacies were received to the amount of ... . $610 GO 

In 1824, from Mr. Samuel Sheldon, of New York . . . 2,000 00 

In 1825 : 

From Mr. Matthew Benschoten, of New York 2,000 00 

From Mrs. Lydia Dixon 50 00 

From Mr. Joseph Fletcher 25 00 

In 1826 : 

From Mrs. CampbeU, of New Hampshire. 10 00 

From Mr. Daniel Burger 500 00 

From Mr. James Thompson, Esq., deceased 1,000 00 



328 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Dr. Elias Hawes $1,000 00 

In 1827 : 

From Othniel Smith, late of New York 500 00 

From Mrs. Isabella Smith 30 00 

From Mr. Thomas Henderson, of New Jersey 30 00 

In 1828 1,910 00 

In 1829 209 39 

In 1830 : 
From the estate of John Fleetwood Marsh, of East Ches- 
ter, N. Y., deceased 10,000 00 

From that of John Withington, of New York, deceased 7,000 00 
From a female friend to the Bible Society, late of New- 
ark, N. J 50 00 

From Abel Burrit, late of New Haven, Conn 4000 

From OHve Fowler, of Hartford, Conn 20 00 

From Martha Scott, late of Lexington District, S. C. . . 200 00 

From Adam Wyhe, Sen., late of Ohio 20 00 

From Mary Herrick, late of Heading, Mass 100 00 

In 1831 : 
From Martin Thaxter, late of Worcester, deceased, $100 

and interest 126 00 

From Captain Thomas Punderson, late of New Haven, 

Conn., deceased, proceeds of sale of stock 40 00 

From Cyrene Isaacs, late of Genoa, N. Y., deceased, by 

her executor, William Bradley 50 00 

From Miss Sarah Greely, late of Hopkinton, N. H., to 
aid m sending the Word of Life to the poor and desti- 
tute in the western part of the United States 50 00 

From John Taylor, Esq., of Albany, by his executor, 

Charles D. Cooper 300 00 

From Miss Miranda Wright, of Westhampton, Mass., de- 
ceased, by Daniel Butler, Jun 20 00 

From Miss Belinda Clarkson, late of New York, deceased 100 00 

From John Bartlett, late of New Ipswich, Mass., by Isaac 

Adams, executor 450 00 

Fiuui Mrs. Hester Simpson, late of Wilkes county, Ga., 

by William and Robert Simpson, executors 3000 

From Josiah Penfield, late of Savannah, Ga., deceased, by 

his executor, Joseph Cummin 1,000 00 

From William Semple, late of Pittsburgh, Penn., deceas- 
ed, by his executor, William J. Semple 50 00 

From Miss Thankful Moses, of Blandford, deceased, by 

her executor, Charles Hall, on account 500 00 



LEGACIES. 



329 



In 1832 : 
From Miss Clarina Bacchus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio . . $603 00 
From Mrs. Mary Burnett, widow of James Burnett, of 

Newark, N.J 50 00 

From Edward M. Walker, deceased, by R. D. Silliman, 

acting executor 100 00 

From Maria Merrick, late of North Brandford, Conn. . . 100 00 

From Charles J. Jenkins, late of Jefferson county, Ga. . 25 00 

From Daniel Clements, late of New Windsor, deceased, 

by his executors, John Clements and John Smith, of 

Cornwall, part of residuum of estate 500 00 

From Miss Thanltful Moses, late of Blandford, Mass., de- 
ceased, by her executor. Dr. Eli Hall, balance of $1000 652 00 
From Edward Warren Rockwell, late of Hudson, N. Y., a 

child four years old 1 26 

From Thomas Hamilton, late of Kittaning, Penn., by 

James Hamilton, Esq 200 00 

From Mrs. Elizabeth Tappan, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 

deceased, by P. C. Tappan, Esq 30 00 

From Jonas WiUiams, late of New Windsor, deceased. 100 00 

From Roxana Bishop, of New Haven, Conn., deceased. 30 00 

From Colonel H. Rutgers, late of New York, deceased, 

by his executor, Wilham B. Crosby, Esq 1,000 00 

From Wilham Smith, late of Troy, deceased 1,000 00 

From Marinus Oudenard, late of Utica, N. Y., deceased, 

with interest 180 48 

In 1833 : 

From Joseph Faulkner, late of Andover, Mass 200 00 

From Wilham W. Walmsley, late of Mexico, by James 

B. Thompson and George Savage, executors 200 00 

From John B. Lawrence, late of Salem, Mass., by Abel 

L. Pierson and Charles Lawrence, executors 634 62 

From George Paull, late of St. Clairsville, Ohio 100 00 

From Miss Clarina Backus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio, 

second payment 301 50 

From Miss Mary Hamilton, late of Carhsle, Penn 100 00 

From Miss Joanna Baker, late of Amherst, Mass 2 00 

From Miss Mary Belknap, late of Boston, Mass., by her 

executors, John Belknap, A, E. Belknap, and J. Head 1,000 00 
From Miss Clarina Backus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio, 

third payment 703 50 

From John Vernon, late of Linton township, Coshocton 

county, Ohio 75 00 



330 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Jacob Gilbert, late of South Salem, West Chester 

county, N. Y., per Josiah Gilbert, executor $100 00 

From Rebecca A. Sherman, late of New Haven, Conn. 50 50 

From Deacon Levi Crosby, late of Lisbon, Conn., per 

Lyman Brewer, Esq 50 00 

From Mrs. Naomi Bridgden, late of Schenectady, N. Y., 

per N. B. Bassett 10 00 

From William Thomas, late of South Carolina, William 

Dubose's one half, with interest 653 75 

Another legacy 10 20 

In 1834: 

From Mrs. Louisa Pratt, late of Austerlitz, N. Y 100 00 

From Margaret Gray, late of Jaffray, Cheshire county, 

N. H 209 00 

From James Ralston, late of Chester county, Peim 60 00 

From William Thomas, late of Cheraw, S. C, half of a 

legacy and interest 653 28 

From Gilbert S. Fowler, late of New York, deceased. . . 50 00 

From Peter Paine, late of South Hartford, Washington 

county, N. Y., deceased 12 50 

From Mrs. Eliza H. Jones, late of Calcutta, deceased. . 50 00 

From Thames Wilcox, late of Bristol, Conn 575 00 

From Frederic A. Graves, of Sunderland, Mass 20 00 

From Mrs. Maria Schuyler, deceased 200 00 

From Esther Turner, late of Newton, Bucks county, 

Penn., deceased 250 00 

From Mrs. Angelica Lane, late of Troy, N. Y., deceased 200 00 
From Nathaniel Smith, late of Sunderland, Mass., dec'd. 500 00 
From Mrs. Sarah Ingham, late of Saybrook, Conn., de- 
ceased 25 00 

From Mr. Andrew M'Neely, late of Charlotte, N. C, de- 
ceased 50 00 

From Eliza T. Wells, late of Philadelphia, deceased. . , 48 75 

From Moses Cowan, late of Union Village, N. Y., in part 300 00 

In 1835 : 
From Horton Strong, late of Augusta, Oneida county, N. Y. 10 00 

From Mary R. Farrington, of do 46 

From Mrs. Margaret Saunders, late of Lansingburgh, 

N. Y 50 00 

From Thaddeus Northrop, late of Charlton, Saratoga 

county, N. Y., deceased 473 44 

From Mary Rowley, late of Galway, Saratoga county, 

N. Y., deceased 15 00 



LEGACIES. 331 

From Nathaniel Smith, late of Sunderland, Mass $150 00 

From Mrs. Sarah Willoughby, late of Washington county, 

Va., deceased 20 00 

From Wessell Van Schaick, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y., 

deceased 250 00 

From Peter Stryker, late of Flatbush, N. Y., deceased. . 419 37 
From Miss Clarina Backhus, late of Chillicothe, Ohio, 

deceased, on account 255 49 

From Mrs. Dorcas A. Bishop, late of Wilton, N. H., de- 
ceased 425 00 

From Isaac Waters, late of New Hartford, N. Y., deceased 100 00 
From Mrs. Anne Woodward, late of Hartford, Vt., de- 
ceased 30 00 

From Hon. Josiah Bising, late of Rupert, Vt., deceased 100 00 

From Moses Cowan, late of Union Village, N. Y., deceased 200 00 

From John M'Lain, late of Brown county, Ohio 100 00 

From Horace D. Humphrey, late of Simsbury, Conn., de- 
ceased 50 oa 

From Miss Sarah H. Nitherton, late of New Lexington, 

Mo., deceased 5 00 

From Mrs. Patience Moore, late of Marietta, Ohio, de- 
ceased 50 00 

From David W. Childs, late of Utica, N. Y., deceased. . 500 00 

From Levi and Amelia Tomlinson, late of Ohio 50 00 

From John Mooney Mead, late of East Hartford, Conn., 

deceased 2 00 

From Miss Mary Allen, late of East Windsor, Conn., de- 
ceased 300 00 

From Samuel Howard, Jun., late of Benson, Vt 200 00 

From Aaron Andrews, late of Ware, Mass., deceased . . 50 00 

From Isaac Van Horn, late of Zanesville, Ohio, deceased, 

first installment of $50 12 50 

From Mrs. Catharine J. Andrews, late of Back Creek 

Church, N. C, deceased 5 00 

From Joseph Yates, late of Fleming county, Ky., deceased 50 00 

In 1836: 
From Wilham C. Johnson, late of Burhngton, Lavnrence 

county, Ohio, and interest 205 00 

From Miss Catharine Faulkener, late of Orange county, 

N. Y., deceased 100 00 

From a Friend, deceased 10 00 

From James Nelson, late of Steubenville, Ohio 100 00 

From Mrs. Aime Powell, late of Liberty county, Geo. . . 25 00 



332 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Isaac Warren, late of Charlestown, Mass $500 00 

From Heman Averill, late of New York city 250 00 

From Obadiah Thayer, of Wellsborough, Essex county, 

N. Y 50 67 

From Mrs. Jennette Bleakley, late of Wigton, Scotland 22 50 
From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, deceased, pecu- 
niary legacy and interest, also stock, worth at par $8800 11,279 46 
From Mrs. Anne Welch, late of New London, Conn. . . 2,123 21 

From Hugh Kennedy, late of Hagerstown, Md 1,000 00 

From Samuel Bell, late of Preble county, Ohio 100 00 

From John Flack, late of the city of New-York 500 00 

From Lucy Adams, late of Charlestown, Mass 10 00 

From a young lady, deceased 6 00 

From Mrs. Jerusha M. Ackerly, late of New York, de- 
ceased 200 00 

From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn. . . . 800 00 
From Mrs. Sarah A. Andrus, late of Madison, Conn., and 

interest 107 82 

From Gilbert King, late of Newburgh, N. Y 1,000 00 

From Miss Mary Gilbert, late of South Salem, N. Y., de- 
ceased 200 00 

In 1837 : 

From Mrs. Anne Margaret Seyburt, late of Rome, N. Y. 100 00 

From Deacon Elisha Dickinson, late of Hadley, Mass. . . 100 00 

From Benjamin Tallmadge, late of Litchfield, Conn.. . . 1,000 00 

From Ferdinand Bailey, late of Scotchtown, N. Y 325 00 

From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, Vt 300 00 

From Samuel Haynes, late of Prattsburgh, N. Y 25 00 

From William Hamage, late of St. Clairsville, Ohio. ... 30 00 

From Letitia Murphy, late of Churchtown, Penn 10 00 

From Miss Elizabeth A. D. Gardner, late of Charlestown, 

Mass 7 00 

From James Dunn, late of Belmont county, Ohio 30 00 

From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, balance of 

legacy 200 00 

From Wilham Whitlock, late of New York city 500 00 

From Stillman Jones, late of Boston, Mass 274 05 

From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, Vt., 10 shares of 

Bank of America sold 1,000 00 

From Mrs. Lydia Bassell, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y. . . 150 27 

From Miss Fanny Greenough, late of Amherst, Mass.. . 50 00 

In 1838 : 

From Mrs. Grizzy Ross, late of Portland, Maine 50 00 



LEGACIES. 333 

From Mrs. Judge Wallace, late of Huntsville, Ala $3 00 

From Mrs. Caroline Averill, late of New York 50 00 

From Isaac Brewster, do. do. do 500 00 

From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of Worthington, Mass. . . 1,500 00 

From General Isaac Van Home, late of Zanesville, Ohio 37 50 

From Miss Lucy Ann Brown, late of Hadley, Mass. ... 150 00 
From Elias Boudinot, LL.D., late of Burlington, N. J., 

proceeds of land sold 2,027 00 

From Miss Matilda Wright, late of New London, Comi. 50 00 

From Miss Molly Shaw, late of Palmer, Mass 100 00 

From Miss Julia Ann Maltby, late of Northford, Conn. 10 00 

From Josiah Merlin, late of Jefferson, Tenn 500 

From Polemna Smith, do. do. do 28 00 

From Miss Jane Brice, late of Montgomery county, Ohio 20 00 

From John Smith, late of Southport, N. Y 100 00 

From Rebecca B. Carpenter, of Behohoth Village, Mass. 200 00 
From Joseph Burr, late of Manchester, Vt., proceeds of 

stock sold 7,800 00' 

From Peninah Hampton, late of Bahway, N. J 50 00 

From Stillman Jones, late of Boston, Mass., balance. . . . 661 66 
From Mrs. Lydia Bassell, late of Lansmgburgh, N. Y., 

balance . . 126 43 

From Miss Martha Bernard, late of Highland county, 

Ohio 10 00 

Li 1839 : 

From Jo?in Salmon, late of Cincinnati, Ohio 427 97 

From James Beekman, late of New York 500 00 

From Lydia S. M-'GafFey, late of N. Sandwich, N. H. . . 25 00 

From Noah Bosworth, late of Halifax, Mass 196 50 

From Mary Piatt, late of Fishkill, N. Y 200 00 

From Elias Boudinot, LL.D., late of Burhngton, N. J., 

balance of proceeds of land sold 1,075 00 

From Henry Gardner, late of Charlestown, Mass 181 00 

From Joseph Lathrop, late of New York 3,310 00 

From Cyrus Sampson, a colored man, late of Kentucky, 

proceeds of land devised by him twenty years since, for 

the distribution of the Bible 97 87 

From David D. Crane, late of Newark, N. J 50 00 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Miami county, Ohio 62 00 

From Lydia Bassell, late of Lansingburgh, N. Y. , 127 14 

From Ohve Perkins Kinsman, late of Warren,. Ohio . . . 100 00 

From Hetty Rice, late of Framinghara., Mass 43 36 

From Sarah Elizabeth Howe, late of Jaffrey, N. H. . . . 200 00 



334 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

In 1840 : 
From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, 

Mass., on account $1,500 00 

From Eliza M. Hall, late of Wallingford, Conn 100 00 

From J oseph Lathrop, late of New York, avails of Hart- 
ford Bridge stock 321 00 

From Mrs. Abijah Marshall, late of New York city 300 00 

From Angus M'Niel, late of Richmond county, N. C. . . 50 00 

From William Bryce, late of New York city, on account 112 00 
From John W. Claxton, late of Philadelphia, interest on 

stock bequeathed by him 18 05 

From Miss Martha Rogers, late of Hartford, Conn 200 00 

From Abel Drewry, late of Sangersfield, N. Y 107 00 

From Nathan Newell, late of Windsor, Me 10 00 

From Alexander M'Donald, late of Baltimore, Md 500 00 

From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn.. . . 250 00 

From James Montgomery, late of Caswell county, N. C. 25 00 

From Sewall B. Pratt, late of Bolton, N. Y 25 00 

From Hon, Jeremiah Nelson, late of Newburyport, Mass., 

on account 100 00 

From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, Mass. 500 00 

From John Campbell, late of Miami county, Ohio 43 00 

From Miss Polly Hubbard, late of York, Livingston 

county, N. Y 25 00 

From Mrs. Fally Taylor, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y. 2,000 00 

From James Wilson, late of Champaign county, Ohio. . 10 00 

From Timothy AUyn, late of West Springfield, Mass. . . 30 00 

From John Shackford, late of Washington city 250 00 

From John Galbraith, late of Steubenville, Ohio 438 22 

From James Vance, late of Abingdon, Va 42 00 

From Asa Clarke, Jun., late of Sherburne, Mass 10 00 

From Mrs. Abigail Woods, late of Dunstable, Mass. ... 25 00 

From Miss Anna Woodward, late of East Haddam, Conn. 50 00 

From Mrs. Fanny R. Smith, late of New London, Conn. 100 00 

From Mary E. Shepherd, late of Canandaigua, N. Y. . . 18 87 

From Forster Allen, late of Manchester, Mass 75 00 

In 1841 : 

From Mrs. Rebecca Nickcvsoii, New Bedford, Mass.. . . 100 00 

From John R. Smith, a soldier, late of Fort Towson. . . 20 00 

From William Smart, late of Gloucester county, Va. . . 250 00 

From Ann E. Edgar, late of New London, Conn 50 00 

From Mrs. Hannah Gates, late of Waterford, Conn.. . . 310 00 

From William Kirkpatrick, late of Lancaster, Penn. . . . 250 00 



LEGACIES. 90- 

000 

From Orson P. Wheeler, late of Charlotte, Vt $90 00 

From EHzabeth Tuttle, late of Massachusetts . 28 12 

From Amos Tenney, late of Claremont, N. H 50 GO 

From Polly A. Sterling, late of La Fayette, N. Y 10 00 

From Miss Mary Ann Brimmer, late of Boston, Mass.. 5,000 00 

From Mr. M'Ferson, late of Red Oak, Ohio 100 00 

From Mrs. Dorothy Powers, late of Middletown, Conn. 30 00 

From Mary Ann Belden, late of New York 1000 

From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn., in 

part 556 00 

From Miss Elizabeth Hotchkiss, late of Watertown, Conn. 75 00 

In 1842: 
From Bev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, 

Mass., in part 700 00 

From John Shackford, Esq., late of Washington City, 

balance 7,707 52 

From Samuel Sheldon, late of Troy, N. Y 117 50 

From Elijah Comfort, late of Bridport, Vt 3 67 ' 

From Moses A. Chapin, late of West Springfield, Mass. 100 00 
From Mrs. Mary Ann Morgan, late of Stockbridge, Mass., 

one life member 30 00 

From Thomas Crosby, late of Lee, Mass 200 00 

From John Caldwell, late of Morning Sun, Ohio 260 00 

From Joseph F. AfFolder, late of Newark, N. J., in part 200 00 

From Elisha Hatch, late of Griswold, Coim 30 00 

From James Davidson, late of Stockbridge, Mass ,. . 20 00 

From William M'Farland, late of Worcester, Mass., in 

part 2,400 00 

From Miss Freelove Collins, late of Westfield, Mass., in 

part 800 00 

From Mrs. Christian Baker, late of Boston, Mass. (for 

dist.) 2,000 00 

From Dr. Otis Spurr, late of Granville, N. Y 5 00 

From Dr. Henry W. Hornbeck, late of Montgomery, N. 

Y., in part 200 00 

From Hon. Jeremiah Nelson, late of Newburyport, Mass., 

balance 604 00 

From Miss Sarah Fletcher, late of Northbridge, Mass., 

in part 207 50 

From Mrs. Jane Van Cortlandt, late of Newark, N. J. . 500 00 
From Dr. Henry W. Hornbeck, late of Montgomery, N. 

Y., dividend on stock 28 00 

From Hannah E. Stirling, late of New Milford, Conn. . 2 00 



336 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Thankful Evans, Oakham, Mass $23 87 

From Mrs. H. G. Powers, late of Phillipston, Mass 10 00 

From Lewis Johnson 50 00 

From Stephen Long, late of Honeybrook, Penn 100 00 

From Rev. Ebenezer Porter, D.D., late of Andover, Mass. 1,102 10 

In 1843: 

From Julius Page, late of Binghampton, N. Y 500 00 

From Lydia Boardman, late of Haverhill, Mass 50 00 

From Ebenezer Smith, late of Schaghticoke, N. Y 10 00 

From D. M. Beebe, late of Richmond, Mass 150 00 

From Miss Elizabeth M. Mitchell, late of Norwich, Conn. 10 00 

From Judith C. Upham, late of Rochester, N. H 100 00 

From Mrs. Rebecca Nickerson, late of Bedford, Mass., 

balance 121 08 

From Esther H. Bullard, late of Holliston, Mass 1,000 00 

From Matthew Stephenson, late of Leesburg, Tenn. . . . 500 00 

From Zenas P. Ives, late of Bristol, Conn 150 00 

From John Hopkins, late of North Hampton, Mass.. . . 1,504 50 
From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass., one 

half for the blind 2,000 00 

From Leffert Hagawout, late of Greenwich, N. J 50 00 

From Elisha Munson, late of New Haven, Conn 100 00 

From Lucy Fanning, late of Albion, N. Y., one life mem- 
ber .'. 30 00 

From John M 'Donald, late of Pittsburgh, Penn 1,000 00 

FromMissLavinia A. Wilson, late of Marlborough, Mass. 25 00 

From WilHam Camp, late of Newark, N. J., in part. . . 229 69 

From Deacon Samuel Galpin, late of Middletown, Conn. 5 00 

From Joseph Battell, late of Norfolk, Conn 200 00 

From Dyer White, late of New Haven, Conn., one life 

member 50 00 

From Henry W. Delavan, late of Ballston Center, N. Y. 2,000 00 

From Abial Cheney, late of Waterford, Vt 900 00 

From Mrs. Lucy Grosvenor, late of Brookfield, Mass. ... 170 00 

From John Caldwell, late of Morning Sun, Ohio 240 00 

From Emily A. Austin, late of Brooklyn, N. Y 50 00 

From Sarah Fletcher, late of Northbridge, Mass., in part 143 75 

From Abigail A. Linsley, late of Northford, Conn 100 00 

From W. M'Farland, late of Worcester, Mass., in part. 350 00 
From Samuel B. Loud, late of South Weymouth, Mass., 

in part . 500 00 

From Pvev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, 

Mass., in part 300 00 



LEGACIES. 



337 



From Robert Gosman, late of Stuyvesant, N. Y $1,066 00 

From Dr. Henry W. Hombeck, late of Montgomery, N. 

y., balance 883 00 

In 1844 : 
From Samuel B. Loud, late of South Weymouth, Mass., 

balance 500 00 

From Dorothy Johnson, late of Cornwall, Conn 54 50 

From Abiah Chapm, late of Westfield, Mass 50 00 

From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass., in part 1,122 62 

From Hannah H. Perkins, late of Norwich, Conn 50 00 

From Sally Jewett, late of HoUis, N. H 20 00 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio 160 00 

From Dr. Jas. EngHsh, late of Monmouth county, N. J., 

balance 1,073 56 

From Mrs. Anna Welsh, late of New London, Conn., 

balance 4,000 00 

From D. Traphagen, late of Tewksbury, N. J 100 00 

From Normand Smith, Jun., late of Hartford, Conn., in 

part 500 00 

From Ohve A. Strong, late of Augusta, N. Y., three Hfe 

members 90 00 

From John A. Chamberlain, late of Dorchester, Mass. . . 1,000 00 

From Miss Lucy Ann Whittlesey, late of Bunker Hill, 111. 10 00 
From Miss Freelove CoUins, late of Westfield, Mass., in 

part 100 00 

From Mrs. Abby Roff, late of Newark, N. J 444 67 

From Miss Sarah Fletcher, late of Northbridge, Mass., 

balance 147 50 

From Wm. M'Farlan, late of Worcester, Mass., balance 250 00 

From Miss Huldah Perley, late of Bedford, Mass 100 00 

From Phebe Osborn, late of Camillus, N. Y 50 00 

From Hon. Wm. Hampton, late of Piketon, Ohio, in part 340 00 

From Nathaniel Smith, late of Flushing, N. Y 1,070 73 

From Thomas Gilhamx, late of Oglethorpe county, Geo. 62 50 

From Daniel Bullard, late of Kingston, N. J 25 00 

From J. Sperry, late of Winchester, Va 100 00 

From Miss Emily A. Austin, late of Brooklyn, N. Y., 

balance 50 00 

From Mrs. Sarah G. Bond, late of North Brookfield, Mass. 50 00 

From Mrs. Abigail Gushing, late of Hanson, Mass 10 00 

From Andrew P. Hopper, late of Steubenville, Ohio. . . 40 00 

From Mrs. Ehzabeth Nutt, late of Watervhet, N. Y. . . 100 00 

From Joanna Stearns, late of Milford, Mass 50 00 

Y 



338 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Miss Emily J. Munson, late of East Bloorafield, 

N. Y $30 00 

From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, 

Mass., in part 1,765 00 

From Andrew Anderson, late of Steubenville, Ohio. ... 100 00 

From Thomas Loomis, late of New Berlin, N. Y 33 33 

In 1845 : 
From Mrs. Susan P. Root, late of Binghampton, N. Y., 

three life members 100 00 

From Elizabeth WyHe, late of Sparta, 111 12 00 

From Miss Emily A. Austin, late of Brooklyn, N. Y. . . 50 00 

From James Goddard, late of Berlin, Mass 100 00 

From Henry C. Willard, late of Ashby, Mass 1406 

From F. S. Key, late of Washington, D. C, in part. , . 352. 24 

From John Morrison, late of New York 1,000 00 

From Miss Nancy H. Roberts, late of Newark, N. J.. . 15 00 

From Mrs. Jerusha Brockway, late of Hartford, Oliio. . 50 00 

From Rev. Erastus Ripley, late of Meriden, Conn 481 02 

From Miss Temperance Bull, late of Essex, Conn 150 00 

From James C. Hanks, late of Elgin, 111 23 00 

From Henry H. Wilson, late of Somerset county, N. J. . 50 00 

From Richard Carney, late of Portsmouth, Va 1,000 00 

From Mary Davenport, late of Little Compton, R. I. . . 78 07 

From James Walker, late of Kingston, Tenn 6014 

From Mrs. Emma Buckingham, late of Putnam, Ohio. 1,000 00 

From Martha E. Watson, late of Warren, Mass 50 00 

From Rev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, 

Mass., in part 150 00 

From EHzabeth Gibson, late of Auburn, N. Y 50 00 

From Rev. Josiah Chickering, late of Phillipston, Mass. 100 00 

From Mrs. Rose Sikes, late of Springfield, N. Y 4 00 

From Miss Frances L. Hamner, late of Farmsville, Va. 10 00 

From James Cox, late of Baltimore, Md., in part 333 00 

From Joseph Affblder, late of Newark, N. J 177 76 

From Rebecca Baldwin, late of Waterbury, Conn 30 00 

From Mrs. Adeline W. Goff, late of Pulaski, Tenn. ... 20 00 

From Henry Hurd, late of Starkey, N. Y., one life member 30 00 

From Abby Roff, late of Newark, N. J., balance 282 06 

From Robert Ormiston, late of Springfield, N. Y 100 00 

From Jerusha Reed, late of New Haven, Conn 50 00 

From Miss Pvachel Bullard, late of Franklin, Mass 5 00 

From John Damon, late of Reading, Mass 1,027 82 

From Agnes Kemper, late of Madison county, Va 20 00 



LEGACIES. 339 

From Cyras Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass., in part $144 64 

From Asa Fisher, late of Franldiii, Mass 750 00 

From Elizabeth Jenkins, late of Rutland, Vt 76 96 

From Miss Sally Keyes, late of Westford, Mass 25 GO 

From Ebenezer Ehner, late of Bridgeton, N. J 500 00 

From Miles C. Brownell, late of Ovid, N. Y 5 00 

From Mrs. Rebecca Bell, late of Eutaw, Ala 25 00 

From Gen. Jolin Francis, late of Royalton, Vt 150 00 

From Mrs. Sarah Watkins, late of Winhall, Vt 3 00 

From Thomas Gilham, late of Oglethorpe county, Ga., 

in part 68 75 

From Mrs. Sarah Fitch, late of Westmoreland, N. Y. . . 2 00 

From James M'Vean, late of Caledonia, Vt 103 50 

From Amzi Goddin, late of Louisville, Miss 1,000 00 

From Miss Lucretia Bliss, late of Springfield, Mass., 

three life members 190 40 

From Mrs. Lucy H. Clark, late of Marlborough, Mass. 10 00 

From Ohver Dickinson, late of Amherst, Mass 700 00 

From EUzabeth Reynolds, late of Pine Plains, N. Y. . . 50 00 

Li 1846 : 

From Joseph Orr, late of Jefferson county, Ohio 20 00 

From Sidney S. MiUs, late of GloversviUe, N. Y 200 00 

From IVIiss Elizabeth Hait, late of Connecticut Farms, 

N.J 100 00 

From John Fleetv^^ood Marsh, late of West Chester coun- 
ty, N. Y., in part 26,000 00 

From Samuel Sherman, late of Woodbury, Conn 100 00 

From John Campbell, late of Sidney, Ohio 36 00 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio 36 00 

From Harmonia Allen, late of Sturbridge, Mass 84 50 

From Mrs. Harriet Stearns, late of Cornish, N. H., one 

life member 30 00 

From Perez Marshall, late of Tolland, Mass 261 02 

From Elijah Sorter, late of Lidianapohs, Ind 20 00 

Interest on Pvedo's legacy 7 00 

From Volney Cook, late of Syracuse, N. Y., in part. . . . 142 86 

From Stephen Soule, late of North Manlius, N. Y 12 73 

From Isaac Hine, late of Middlebury, Conn 1000 

From Benjamin Swain, late of North Pleading, Mass.. . 100 00 

From James North, late of Bucks county, Penn., in part 2 47 
From Judah Bement, late of Chenango county, N. Y., 

one hfe member 30 00 

From Joseph Yates, late of St. Louis county, Mo 50 00 



340 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Mrs. Eunice King, late of Norwich, Conn., three 

life members $90 00 

From Alfred Holbrook, late of Byron, N. Y 274 95 

From Mrs. Phebe Pierson, late of Bridgeton, N. J 100 00 

From Eliza Funk, late of Franklin, Ohio 50 00 

From James Worth, late of Bucks county, Penn 409 28 

From Mrs. Elizabeth P. Hombeck, late of St. Andrew's, 

N. Y., in part 696 00 

From Deacon Darnel Lang, late of Salem, Mass 175 25 

From Hon. Daniel Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass., for 

Asia, in part 7,288 00 

From Mrs. Lois Ackley, late of Winchester, Conn., for- 
eign distribution 396 26 

From Elias Page, late of Marshall, N. Y 145 20 

From Mrs. Ehzabeth Leaworthy, late of Camden, N. Y. 50 00 

From Miss Sally Bodfish, late of Falmouth, Mass 107 00 

From Mrs. Roxana Davis, late of Greensborough, Vt. . . 10 00 
From Elizabeth S. Gamsey, late of Clifton Park, N. Y., 

four life directors 600 00 

From Levi Crocker, late of Clarkson, N. Y., in part. . . . 248 00 

From Nehemiah Denton, late of Brooklyn, N. Y 1,000 00 

From Harvey Shepard, late of Toronto, U. C . 300 00 

From Nathan Gamsey, late of CHfton Park, N. Y., in part 250 00 
From Alexander M'Kee, late of Manchester, Conn., one 

life member. 100 00 

From Mrs. Jane Telfair, late of Hillsborough, Ohio 200 00 

From Deacon Daniel Perry, late of Bristol, E.. 1 10 00 

From Deacon Gideon Burt, late of Long Meadow, Mass. 500 00 
From Hon. David Read Evans, late of Winnsborough, 

S. C 2,247 33 

From Charles D. Betts, late of New York 1,000 00 

From Hon. Charles Hunt, late of Gorham, Me., in part 62 50 

From Mrs. Pamela Smith, late of Granby, Mass. ..... 200 00 

From Mrs. Eunice Averili, late of Hartford, Conn 2,000 00 

From Ebenezer H. Fowler, late of Northford, Conn. ... 500 00 

From Dr. George R. Brown, late of Preble county, Ohio 100 00 

From D. Finley, late of Sahne county. Mo 100 00 

From Ephraim Chamberlain, late of Cambridgeport, 

Mass 20C 00 

In 1847 : 

From Ebenezer H. Fowler, late of Northford, Conn 500 00 

From Dr. George R. Brown, late of Preble county, Ohio 100 00 

From D. Finley, late of Sahne county, Mo 100 00 



LEGACIES. 



341 



From Ephraim Chamberlain, late of Cambridgeport, 

Mass $200 00 

From Mrs. E. P. Hornbeck, late of St. Andrew's, N. Y., 

in part 813 00 

From Miss Huldah Hunt, late of Seekonk, Mass 100 00 

From Hon. Daniel Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass., bal- 
ance 2,772 00 

From Heman Beebee, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y 100 00 

From Miss A. Forman, late of Newark, N. J 3500 

From Stephen J. Bowles, late of Roxbury, Mass 500 00 

From Hannah Lang, late of Providence, R. 1 5 00 

From Lois Ackley, late of Winchester Center, Conn., in 

part 136 47 

From Levi Crocker, late of Clarkson, N. Y 445 00 

From Margaret M'Pherson, late of Broadalbin 175 00 

From Mrs. Tamme Adams, late of Lee, Mass., in part. . 605 00 

From Dr. Abishai Howard, late of Sturbridge, Mass. ... 50 00 

From Maria M'Clellan, late of Baltimore, Md., in part. 370 00^ 

From John White, late of Meigs county, Ohio 5000 

From Judge Wm. Hampton, late of Pike county, Ohio, 

in part 200 00 

From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y., in part 100 00 

From Dr. Stuart (by Rev. E. Judson), late of Milan, Ohio 100 00 

From James Weir, late of Greenville, Kentucky 1,000 00 

From Mrs. Elizabeth Pool, late of New London, Conn. . 50 00 
From Judah Bement, late of Norwich, N. Y., one life 

member 30 00 

From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass 294 83 

From D. S. Minor, late of Woodbury, Conn 50 00 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio 40 00 

From David Edmiston, late of Ross county, Ohio 75 20 

From Wm. Henderson, late of Warren county, Ohio . . . 150 00 

From Anderson Cone, late of Perry, Ohio 2500 

From Nathaniel Taylor, late of Little Compton, R. I. . . 310 02 

From Mrs, Sarah Boardman, late of Haddam, Conn. ... 80 00 
From Elizabeth S. Garnsey, late of Clifton Park, N. Y., 

balance 100 00 

From Mrs. Dorothy Bissell, late of Lancaster, N. Y. . . . 25 00 

From Charlotte Bailey, late of Watertown, N. Y 5 00 

From Deacon Salmon Carter, late of Meriden, Conn. . . . 400 00 

From B. C. Wells, late of Stockbridge, Mass. . 30 00 

From Wm. David, late of Shawangunk, N. Y 50 00 

From Miss Nancy Hooper, late of Boston, Mass 100 00 



342 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Rev. A. A. Shannon, late of Shelbyville, Ky $200 00 

From Mrs. Electa Sage, late of Bolton, Mass 25 00 

From Mrs. Martha A. True, late of Sutton, Mass. ..... 25 00 

From Wm. H. Fondey, late of Albany, N. Y 100 00 

From Mrs. Mary Hart, late of Candor, N. Y 18 00 

From John Fleetwood Marsh, late of West Chester coun- 
ty, N. Y., in part 5,000 00 

From Nathan Garnsey, late of Chfton Park, N. Y 250 00 

From Wm. B. Baird, late of Murfreesborough, Tenn. ... 57 87 

From Dr. Samuel Smith, late of New York 26 00 

From Charles Chamberlain, late of Homer, N. Y 21 38 

From Deacon Nathan Warren, late of Weston, Mass.. . 100 00 

From Elijah P. Booth, late of Sauquoit, N. Y 50 00 

From Rev. John C. March, late of Newbury, Mass. ... 100 00 

From Owen Wilhams, late of New York 137 42 

From Joseph Affblder, late of Newark, N. J., balance . . 39 26 

From Mrs. Kinney, late of Cortlandt, N. Y 10 00 

From Mrs. Mary Ingle, late of Washington, D. C 200 00 

From Hepzibah Lawrence, late of Mason, N. H 152 32 

From Elijah Waters, late of West Millbury, Mass 1,500 00 

In 1848 : 

From Francis S. Key, late of Washington, D. C, in part 142 85 

From Hannah L. Murray, late of New York 1,000 00 

From Mrs. Isabella M'Ninch, late of Chester District, 

S.C 560 29 

From Samuel Perrine, late of Freehold, N. J 50 00 

From Judah Bement, late of Norwich, N. Y 30 00 

From John Guthrie, late of Rockbridge county, Va 100 00 

From Miss Nancy Kendall, late of Worcester, Mass 1,000 00 

From Dr. James Corbit, late of Cantwell's Bridge, Del. . 223 96 

From Orrin Day, late of Catskill, N. Y., in part 120 00 

From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y., in part 100 00 

B. S. Car. Interest 7 00 

From Mrs. Tamme Adams, late of Lee, Mass., in part. . 425 00 

From Abraham D. Mead, late of Greenwich, Conn 500 00 

From A. Coon, late of Perry, Ohio 75 00 

From Amos Wright, late of Tallmadge, Ohio 23 12 

From Deacon Israel Decker 10 00 

From Miss Elizabeth Haywood, late of Boston, Mass. . . 100 00 

From Rev. H. Smith, late of Bingham, Me 100 00 

From Abigail Warner 32 50 

From Wm. M'Caw, late of Fairhaven, Ohio 100 00 

From Levi Crocker, late of Clarkson, N. Y 100 00 



LEGACIES. 343 

From Rev. Daniel Mansfield, late of Wenham, Mass. . . $50 00 

From Mrs. Susan C. Kellogg, late of New London, Conn. 250 00 

From Jolin Montgomery, late of Chester District, S. C. . . 50 00 

From David Moore, late of Newark, Ohio 100 00 

From Hon. Charles Hunt, late of Gorham, Me., in part. 125 00 

From Dr. Amos C. Wright, late of Tallmadge, Ohio. . . 12 00 

From Mrs. Mary Young, late of Newbuiyport, Mass. ... 25 00 

From Mrs. Clara B. Chappell, late of New London, Conn. 100 00 

From Mary Roach, late of Salem, Mass 30 97 

From James Bryce, late of Israel township, Ohio, balance 500 00 

From John R. Richardson, late of Albany, N. Y 3,000 00 

From John Fleetwood Marsh, late of West Chester coun- 
ty, N. Y., balance 8,790 19 

From Volney Cook, late of Syracuse, N. Y 71 30 

From Heman Beebee, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y. . . . 100 00 

From Isaac J. Baldwin, do. do. do 100 00 

From Mrs. Sophia N. Lewis, late of Brooklyn, N. Y. . . 300 00 

From George Suckley, late of New York 100 00 

From James M'Cawan, late of Bedford county, Tenn. . . 44 00 

From James Roosevelt, late of New York 1,000 00 

From J. Cox, late of Baltimore, Md 100 00 

From George N. White, late of lUinois 20 00 

From Samuel Hitchcock, late of Bethany, Conn 500 00 

From CoUin Reed, late of New York 5,000 00 

From Miss Chloe Porter, late of Farmington, Conn. . . . 200 00 

From Henry L. Webb, late of Albany, N. Y 1,000 00 

From William Tuttle, late of Newark, N. J 200 00 

From Sidney S. Mills, late of Gloversville, N. Y., balance 107 00 
From Miss Catharine B. Patton, late of New York, in 

part 1,500 00 

From Professor Solomon Stoddard, late of Middlebury 

College, Vt 100 00 

From Samuel B. Hotchkiss, late of New Haven, Conn., 

in part 233 55 

In 1849 : 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio 80 00 

From Judah Bement, late of Norwich, N. Y., one life 

member 30 00 

From Robert Voorhees, late of Princeton, N. J., in part 500 00 

From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass 42 34 

From Rev. M. Baldwin, late of Scotchtown, N. Y 100 00 

From John W. Claxton, late of Philadelphia, Penn., 

balance 836 16 



344 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Sarah Hills, late of West Newbury, Mass |500 00 

From Moore Chittenden, late of Salisbury, Conn 50 00 

From Orrin Day, late of Catskill, N. Y 2,490 00 

From Mrs. Tamme Adams, late of Lee, Mass 67 42 

From Elisha Dickinson, late of Hadley, Mass., in part. 612 50 
From Edward Hallam, late of New London, Conn., in 

pai't 1,441 75 

From Thomas Lindsay, late of St. Charles, Mo., in part 100 00 
From Mrs. Esther Ketchum, late of Greene, N. Y., three 

life members 100 00 

From Judge Hammond, late of Pittsfield, Vt., three life 

members 100 00 

From Nancy Bronson, late of Vernon, N. Y 25 00 

From Eev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, Mass. 400 00 

From John Scott, late of New York 1,000 00 

From L. L. Blakesley, late of Newark, N, Y 103 50 

From EHza Ann Park, late of Alleghany, Penn 1,359 33 

From Abigail Townsend, late of Walton, N. Y 250 00 

From Freelove Collins, late of Westfield, Mass. . . 100 00 

From Miss Lucy Green, late of South Bend, Ind 50 00 

From Wm. Bran, late of New York 250 00 

From Levi Archer, late of Clarkson, N. Y 200 00 

From Mrs. Lucinda Cook, late of Granville, Ohio 6 00 

From Dr. Amos Wright, late of Ohio 23 00 

From Seth Stanley, late of Ogden, N. Y. 200 00 

From Daniel Stevenson, late of Argyle, N. Y 1,000 00 

From Miss Lucy E. Arthur, late of Baltimore, Md. ... 100 00 

From Ashmun Beebee, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y. . 100 00 

From Francis S. Key, late of Washington, D.C., balance 1,031 40 

From Mary Wright, late of Sidney, Ohio 282 69 

From Amos Wright, late of Tallmadge, Ohio, one life 

member 30 00 

From Mrs. Huldah Stewart, late of Middlebury, Vt 13 15 

From Eliza Darlington, late of West Union, Ohio, in 

part 55 00 

From Samuel Baldwin, late of Riga, N. Y 75 00 

From Mrs. Susan B. Kellogg, late of New London, Conn. 250 00 
From Miss Catharine B. Patton, late of New York, in 

part 1,000 00 

From Julia Hodson, late of Windham, Me 25 00 

From Mary F. Hallam, late of New London, Conn 500 00 

From Mrs. Lucretia Hunt, late of Shoreham, Vt 50 00 



LEGACIES. 345 

From Mrs. Anne Dunham, late of Attleborough, "Mass., 

one life member $60 00 

In 1850 : 

From Edward B. Randolph, late of Columbus, Miss. . . 150 00 

From llev. John Codman, D.D., late of Dorchester, Mass. 1,000 00 
From Hon. Joseph G. Kendall, late of Worcester, Mass., 

in part 1,474 00 

From Lockwood De Forest, late of New York 250 00 

From Maria M'Lelland, late of Baltimore, Md 420 74 

From Mrs. Roxana Starkweather, late of Northampton, 

Mass 707 62 

From Rufus Powers, late of Enfield, Mass 642 27 

From Mary C. Jenkins, late of Newburyport, Mass. ... 10 00 
From Mrs. Betsey Joslyn, late of New Braintree, Mass. 300 00 
From Eliza Darlington, late of West Union, Ohio, bal- 
ance 45 00 

From Miss Dorothy Williams, late of Hadley, Mass. . . 60 00 

From John Fox, late of Augusta, Ga 2,732 25 

From Peter G. Stuyvesant, late of New York 5,000 00 

From jMi's. Sibyl Johnson, late of Canfield, Ohio 50 00 

From Asahel R. Gildersleeve, late of Huntington, L. I. . 25 00 

From Ozias Marvin, late of Clinton, N. Y 200 00 

From Ephraim Hay ward, late of Ashby, Mass 50 00 

From Jeannette Smylie, late of Amite county. Miss. . . . 350 00 

From James Kenning, late of Lexington, Ky 112 60 

From Walter Hubbell, late of Canandaigua, N. Y., in 

part 40 00 

From Mrs. Ruth Judson, late of Kingsborough, N. Y. . 172 79 

From Hon. Charles Hunt, late of Gorham, Me 62 50 

From Beekman M. Van Beuren, late of Staten Island, 

N. Y 27 38 

From Mary Wright, late of Shelby county, Ohio 40 00 

From Kesiah Kean, late of NcAvark, N. J 291 50 

From Thomas Lindsay, late of St. Charles, Mo 613 86 

From jMiss Nancy Emery, late of Newburyport, Mass. . 100 00 

From Elisha Dickinson, late of Hadley, Mass 371 50 

From Mrs. Azubah Stacey, late of Hadley, Mass 169 85 

From Samuel Walker, late of New York 250 00 

From Wm. Stacey, late of Utica, NY 50 00 

From Dr. A. Wright, late of Ohio 7 00 

From Miss Catharine B. Patton, late of New York . . . 400 00 

From Stearns De Witt, late of Oxford, Mass 200 00 



346 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Jonathan Tiittle, late of Lynn, Mass $500 00 

From Elizabeth Scott, late of Albany, N. Y 500 00 

From Daniel Willard, late of Sauquoit, N. Y 250 00 

From Mrs. Margaret Brewster, late of Fannettsburg, 

Penn 100 00 

From Miss Elizabeth Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass. . 4,000 00 

From Benjamin Swift, late of St. Albans, Vt 25 00 

From W. R. Hynes, late of Bardstown, Ky 100 00 

From John Blair, late of Yorkville, S. C 76 00 

From Samuel Baldwin, late of Riga, N. Y 176 25 

From Eli L. Hodge, late of Illinois 5 00 

From James Brackett, late of Philadelphia 76 00 

From Mrs. Martha Buikley, late of Wethersfield, Conn. 5,300 00 

From Heman Beebee, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y. . . 150 00 

From Miss Mary M. Hubbard, late of Middletown, Conn. 100 00 

From John B. Lawrence, late of Salem, Mass 74 49 

From Caroline P. Dayton, late of New York 93 60 

From Stephen W. Dana, late of Troy, N. Y 50 00 

From Rev. Daniel Campbell, late of Oxford, N. H 200 00 

From Mrs. Catharine Coyle, late of Washington, D. C. 100 00 

From Heniy Trowbridge, late of New Haven, Conn.. . 2,000 00 

In 1851: 

From John B. Lawrence, late of Salem, Mass 74 49 

From Caroline P. Dayton, late of New York 93 60 

From Stephen W. Dana, late of Troy, N. Y 50 00 

From Rev. Daniel Campbell, late of Oxford, N. H 200 00 

From Miss Catharine B. Patton, late of Nc-.v Y - ■: ... 100 00 

From Mrs. Catharine Coyle, late of WashingiD.. i). C. 100 00 

From Henry Trowbridge, late of New Haven, Conn. . . 2,000 00 

From Mrs. Ruth S. Judson, late of Gloversville, N. Y. . 161 00 

From Nancy Seely, late of Bridgeton, N. J 50 00 

From Judah Bement, late of Norwich, N. Y 30 00 

From Rev. J. Goodenough, late of New York 20 00 

From Samuel R. Hotchkiss, late of New Haven, Conn. 13 99 

From Deacon Elisha Faxon, late of Stonington, Conn. 100 00 

From C. Churchill Houston, late of Philadelphia, Penn. 1,860 00 
From Miss Lucinda Dickinson, late of Sunderland, 

Mass 50 00 

From James Cox, late of Baltimore, Md 100 00 

From Rufus Powers, late of Enfield, Mass 458 00 

From Joseph Adams, late of Stratham, N. H 100 00 

From Mrs. Wohleben, late of Philadelphia 50 00 



LEGACIES. 347 

From ]Mrs. Nancy Edgerly, late of Gilmanton, N. H. . . $100 00 

From Miss Eebecca M. Gregg, late of Elmira, N. Y. . . 1,000 00 
From Lovee Davis SKelden, thirteen years of age, late 

of Ohio 1 00 

From Samuel T. Hopkins, late of Carbondale, Penn. . . 285 00 

From James Barber, late of Columbia county, Penn. . . 550 00 

From Euth and Mary Patten, late of Hartford, Conn.. 150 00 

From Ehoda Fowler, late of Pittsfield, Mass 1050 

From Helen Stevens, late of Bridgeport, Conn 10 00 

From Mrs. Ann E. Eiddle, late of Manchester, N. H. . . 3 00 

From William "Wallace, late of Washington, Penn. . . . 364 57 

From Deacon Ebenezer Brown, late of Eindge, N. H. . 100 00 

From WilHam Barnes, late of Benton, N. Y 50 00 

From 3Iiss Catharine Doubt, late of Boston, Mass. ... 188 24 

From John Fox, late of Augusta, Ga 2,500 00 

From Walter Hubbell, late of Canandaigua, N. Y 40 00 

From John Powell, late of Franklin township, N. J. . . 50 QO 

From John Crafts, late of North Bridgewater, Mass. . . 200 00 

From Louisa M. Eider, late of GranviUe, N. Y ^ 27 22 

From Ezekiel WiUiams, late of New Hartford, N. Y. . . 100 00 

From Eev. D. Campbell, late of Oxford, N. H 250 00 

From John De Witt, late of Warwarsing, N. Y 500 00 

From George W. Payne, late of Virginia 500 00 

From Deacon Erastus Clark, late of Huntington, Ohio 20 00 

From John Campbell, late of Ohio 40 00 

From Giles H. Cowles, late of Cleveland, Ohio 100 00 

From W. H. Craven, late of Columbus, Miss 100 00 

From Mrs. Dr. W. Miller, late of Salisbury, Vt 31 CO 

From Eev. Samuel Tate, late of Mercer county, Penn.. 33 33 

From Willis Atwater, late of Genoa, N. Y 500 00 

From Daniel S. Marsh, Jr., late of Penn Yan, N. Y. . . 50 00 

From Mrs. Betsey P. Allen , late of New Hartford, N. Y. 25 00 

From John W. Bloomfield, late of Eome, N. Y 60 00 

Interest on Legacy, anonymous 10 50 

From Mrs. P. Janes, late of Farmington, Conn 110 75 

From Mrs. Elizabeth Parkinson, late of Eutland, N. Y. 10 00 

From John White, late of Chester, Ohio 14156 

From Mary Humphreys, late of Erie, Penn 500 00 

From Giles M. Aikins, late of Ohio 91 50 

From Moore Chittenden, late of Salisbury, Conn 152 88 

From Eev. Asa King, late of Westminster, Conn 50 00 

From Mrs. Dr. W. Miller, late of Salisbury, Vt 46 70 



348 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From William Stacey, late of Utica, K Y $50 00 

From Thomas Hanna, late of Alleghany City, Penn. . . 200 00 

From Arch. M'Callum, late of Robeson county, N. C . 25 00 

From Levi Parsons, late of St. Louis, Mo 100 00 

From Mrs. E. Kemper Curtis, late of Walnut Hills, Ohio 425 00 

From Mary M'Cracken, late of Ohio 20 00 

From Ebenezer Elliott, late of Morning Sun, Ohio 200 00 

From Mrs. Clarissa Smith, late of Granby, Mass 200 00 

From Caroline Dexter, late of Pomfret, Conn 300 00 

From Duncan Mallock, late of Caledonia, N. Y 10 00 

From Dr. Peter M'Pherson, late of Caledonia, N. Y . . 38 65 

From David Cunningham, late of Gibson county, Ind. 50 00 

From Edward Cobb, late of Abington, Mass 250 00 

From Thomas Lindsay, late of St. Charles, Mo 1,000 00 

In 1852 : 

From Rev. S. Williston, D.D., late of Durham, N. Y. . 10 00 

From Miss Martha A. Booth, late of Madison county, Va. 56 00 

From Mrs. Charlotte B. Arden, late of Morristown, N. J. 1,000 00 

From Jonas Hine, late of Milford, Mass 28 33 

From Rufus Powers, late of Enfield, Mass 691 00 

From Miss Isabella Currie, late of Robeson county, N. C. 3 55 

From Oliver Warner, late of Hadley, Mass 12 00 

From Rev. M. Swan, late of West Newton, Penn 1,000 00 

From A. M. M'Dow, late of Eutaw, Ala. . 100 00 

From Mrs. Keturah F. Flatt, late of Hanover, N. J. . . 30 00 

From Jeremiah Piatt, late of Fishkill, N. Y 250 00 

From Frances Wells, late of Massachusetts, one life 

member 50 00 

From Miss Freeborn Collins, late of Westfield, Mass. . 100 00 

From Charles H. Kellogg, late of New York 1,000 00 

From Edward Cobb, late of Abington, Mass 1,350 00 

From Mrs. M. Lamson, late of Keene, N. H 50 00 

From Rev. W. M'Wliir, D.D., late of Savannah, Ga. . . 437 50 

From Mrs. Hannah Smith, late of New Canaan, Conn. 60 00 

From Charles J. Jenkins, late of Jefferson county, Ga. 134 00 

From Walter Hubbell, late of Canandaigua, N. Y. . . . 40 00 

From Dr. Richard Gegan, late of Louisiana 100 00 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio 40 00 

From Widow Lucy Ladd, late of Mantua, Ohio 100 00 

From Lydia Graves, late of Hatfield, Mass 100 00 

From Mrs. Mary H. Clapp, late of East LTampton, Mass. 20 00 

From Augustus Alden, late of Hallowell, Me 50 00 



LEGACIES. 349 

From Miss Nancy Gullage, late of Maury county, Tenn. $50 00 

From James Wilson, late of Randolph county. 111. ... 85 00 

From Mr. Margaret Riggs, late of New Providence, N. J. 132 14 

From Benjamin Smith, late of Chester, Yt 40 00 

From Joseph Orr, late of Jefferson county, Ohio 85 00 

From Thomas Lindsay, late of St. Charles, Mo 1,058 99 

From R. J. Munson, late of Fredotiia, N. Y, 5 00 

From AV. H. Craven, late of Columbus, Miss 100 00 

From James Hogan, Jr., late of Williamson county, 

Tenn 100 00 

From IVIr. Harris, late of Rowley, Mass 20 00 

From Judge Hampton, late of Pike county, Ohio 225 00 

From Captain Samuel Denham, late of Conway, Mass. 811 02 

From John W. Bloomfield, late of Rome, N. Y 60 00 

From Miss Harriett A. Reed, late of Taunton, Mass. . . 892 50 

From Uri Beach, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y 250 00 

From Samuel Irvine, late of Newtown, Penn 190 00 

From WiUiam Warner, Jr., late of Lima, N. Y., seven 

life members 250 00 

From jNIiss Clarissa Ayres, late of N. Brookfield, Mass. 100 00 

From Elizabeth R. Jewett, late of Hollis, N. H 600 00 

From Robert W. Smith, late of Rush Creek, Ohio 200 00 

From Conrad Elreuser, late of Salem, N. C 400 00 

From Jason Torrey, late of Honesdale, Penn 100 00 

From William Le Conte, late of Ovid, N. Y., one life 

member ,. . 500 00 

From Joel Camp, late of New Preston, Conn 47 00 

From Miss Charlotte Russell, late of Washington city, 

D. C 50 00 

From Zadoc Ailing, late of Hampden, Conn 100 00 

From Jubal Terbell, late of New York 500 00 

From Rosanna Hicks, late of Stockbridge, Mass 50 00 

From Mrs. Eliza Marv^in, late of Enon Valley, Penn. . . 50 00 

From IMiss Sarah Hoadley, late of New Haven, Conn. . 301 00 

From Rev. Andrew A. Shannon, late of Shelbyville, Ky. 200 00 

From James Blake, late of Boston, Mass 200 00 

From jVIrs. Martha Bulkley, late of Wethersfield, Conn. 851 26 

From Mrs. Martina E. Condict, late of Morristown, N. J. 30 00 

From Samuel Medill, late of Butler county, Ohio 10 00 

From S. W. Dana, late of Troy, N. Y 60 00 

From Daniel Campbell, late of Orford, N. H 650 00 

From Mss Elizabeth Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass. . 2,558 38 



350 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Miss Rebecca Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass. . . $5,196 40 

From Samuel R Hotclikiss, late of New Haven, Conn. 197 37 

From Alfred Bishop, late of Bridgeport, Conn 8,000 00 

From Lydia Sutherland, late of Greenwich, Conn 126 87 

From M. M. Hall, late of Rochester, N. Y 4,815 37 

In 1853 : 
From Miss Angelina W. Smith, late of Lowndes coun- 
ty, Ala 500 00 

From Rev. Daniel Campbell, late of Orford, N. H. . . . 500 00 

From James Cox, late of Baltimore, Md 100 00 

From Rufus Powers, late of Enfield, Mass. 397 00 

From Oliver Warner, late of Hadley, Mass 1300 

From William Craven, late of Columbus, Miss 100 00 

From Edward Cobb, late of Abington, Mass 900 00 

From Nancy Keyes, late of Acton, Mass 50 00 

From Mrs. Freelove Collins, late of Westfield, Mass. . . 100 00 

From Mrs. Hicks, late of Stockbridge, Mass 10 00 

From James Richardson, late of N.White Creek, N. Y. 809 33 

From Orrin Green, late of Potter, N. Y 154 83 

From J. E. Camp, late of Buffalo, N. Y 200 00 

From Wm. E. Button, late of Barnet, Vt 10 00 

From Deacon Ebenezer Rood, late of Torringford, Conn. 50 00 

From Z. Muzzy, late of West Brattleborough, Vt 213 00 

From John Craig, late of Lawrence county, Ala 25 00 

From Rev. Bishop E. Hedding, late of Poughkeepsie, 

N. Y 500 00 

From Mrs. Elizabeth Haskell, late of Newburyport, 

Mass 40 00 

From Benjamin Fay, late of Westborough, Mass 500 00 

From John Campbell, late of Poland, Ohio 30 00 

From Joel Campbell, late of Tallmadge, Ohio 53 00 

From Chester Bulkley, late of Wethersfield, Conn. . . . 2,802 00 

From Mrs. Martha Bulkley, late of Wethersfield, Conn. 1,000 00 

From James E. Boisseau, late of New York 2,000 00 

From Mrs. Hannah Pratt, late of Hopewell, N. Y. . . . 30 00 

From Dimmis Cady, late of Ludlow, Mass 400 00 

From Mrs. Mary A. Holmes, Londonderry, N. H 60 00 

From Mrs. Mary Stead, late of Harrison, Ohio 100 00 

From Daniel Gold, late of Winchester, Va 50 00 

From Mrs. Nancy Willard, late of Dimock, Penn 30 00 

From James Pollock, late of Martinsburg, Ohio 10 00 

From Robert F. Barnard, late of Shefiield, Mass 200 00 



LEGACIES. 351 

From Mrs. Nancy Lay, late of Westbrook, Conn $500 00 

From Benjamin H. Punchard, late of Andover, Mass. . 1,570 67 

From Walter Hubbell, late of Canandaigua, N. Y. . . . 40 00 

From Rev. John H. Stevens, late of Stoneham, Mass. . 20 00 

From IVIrs. Ruckle, late of New York 25 00 

From John W. Bloomfield, late of Rome, N. Y 1,048 67 

From Mrs. Esther Darrow, late of Plymouth, Conn. . . 70 00 

From Ward Sampson, late of Washington, N. H 500 00 

From Captain Perez Walker, late of Sturbridge, Mass. 250 00 

From A. H. Kirkpatrick, late of Chambersburg, Penn. 100 00 

From Thomas Lindsay, Sen., late of St. Charles, Mo. . . 1,300 00 

From Ethan Andrus, late of Middlebury, Vt 90. 00 

From IVIrs. Eunice Lewis, late of Bristol, Conn 277 08 

From Uriah Edwards, late of Canaan, N. Y 200 00 

From Elisha Dickinson, late of Hadley, Mass 302 35 

From Charles H. Kellogg, late of New York 444 03 

From Miss Nancy Hinsdale, late of Troy, N. Y 55 00 

From William B. Kelly, late of Lewistown, HI 1,000 00 

From Alanson Stewart, late of Liberty, N. Y 10 00 

From Mary Ann Bowers, late of Durham, Conn 10 00 

From Charles R. Codman, late of Boston, Mass 500 00 

From Mrs. Abigail Willard, late of Stockbridge, Mass. 137 50 

From Dr. Leander Utley, late of Providence, R. 1 100 00 

From John Miller, late of — , 100 00 

From Moses Gale, late of Haverhill, Mass 100 00 

From Gardiner G. Howland, late of New York 1,000 00 

From Jonathan Tuttle, late of Lynn, Mass. 1,177 93 

From Sally Flagg, late of Worcester, Mass 517 50 

From Timothy Buell, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y. . . 25 00 

From Mrs. Emily Denslow, late of Hartford, Conn. ... 100 00 

P'rom Mrs. Fanny Sargeant, late of Windsor, Conn 200 00 

From Charlotte A. M. Overton, late of Riverhead, N. Y. 515 88 

From Henry D. Curtis, late of Torringford, N. Y 100 00 

From Mrs. Jane Beaty, late of Cadiz, Ohio 150 00 

From Mrs. Jane Stevenson, late of Argyle, N. Y 2,000 00 

From Mrs. Laura A. Lowrey, late of Southington, 

Conn 50 00 

From John Gray, late of New York 3,000 00 

From jMrs. Susan C. Kellogg, late of New London, 

Conn 37 92 

From John L. Smith, late of Southport, N. Y 100 00 

From Ruanah Canada, late of New Haven, Conn 750 00 



352 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From William Stacey, late of Utica, N. Y $50 00 

From Uri Beach, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y 100 00 

From Elisha Beach, late of Mendham, N. J 50 00 

From Josiah Shedd, M.D., late of Peacham, Vt 2,000 00 

From Samuel R. Hotchkiss, late of New Haven, Conn. 15 00 

From Volney Cook, late of Syracuse, N. Y. 175 76 

From S. W. Dana, late of Troy, N. Y 60 00 

From Aaron Bliss, late of Brimfield, Mass 120 00 

From D wight Foster, late of Palmer, Mass 225 00 

From Mrs. Mary W. G. Chapin, late of Bennington, 

Vt 50 00 

From Mrs. Cowen, late of Greenwich, N. Y 100 00 

From Mrs. Charity Van Tuyl, late of Springfield, Ohio 100 00 

From Jonas Hine, late of Milford, Conn 29 67 

From Ann Timothy, late of Charleston, S. C 1,005 62 

From Israel J. Knox, late of Augusta, N. Y 47 00 

From Hosea Town, late of Church ville, N. Y 500 00 

In 1854: 
From Dr. Thomas Andrews, Jr., late of Slaterville, 

R. I 15 00 

From Joseph Hayes, late of Yarmouth, Me 100 00 

From Benjamin Brush, late of Stanwich, Conn. 100 00 

From Deacon John Goodsell, late of Buffalo, N. Y 5,000 00 

From Mrs. Jane Swan, late of Northfield, Ohio 30 00 

From Miss Elizabeth Waldo, late of Worcester, Mass. . 487 33 

From Abraham Harrison, late of Orange, N. J 25 00 

From Isaac Chatterton, late of Rutland, Vt 41 80 

From Noah Thompson, late of Woodstock, Vt 1,700 00 

From Peter Chambers, late of Mexico, N. Y 6,400 00 

From Miss Nancy Hinsdale, late of Troy, N. Y 55 00 

From William R. Hayes, late of West Indies 1,000 00 

From Willis Wilder, late of Littleton, N. H. 55 00 

Interest on legacy of Timothy Hurd, late of Reading, 

N. Y 3 50 

From Miss Elizabeth S. Fisher, late of Thompson, Conn. 10 00 

From Rufus Powers, late of Enfield, Mass 915 30 

From Sarah Stewart, late of Annapolis, Md 867 26 

From George Douglas, late of Conway, N. H 100 00 

From Mrs. Ursula R. Spencer, late of Deep River, Conn. 200 00 

From James W. Dominick, late of New Y^ork 100 00 

From Miss Polly B. Woodruff, late of Washington, 

Conn 5 00 



LEGACIES. 353 

From David Ticlienor, late of Newark, N. J $2,000 00 

From David Hayes, late of Newark, N. J 100 00 

From John Hanna, late of Harrison county, Ohio, ... 50 00 

From Walter Baker, late of Dorchester, Mass 1,000 00 

From James Cox, late of Baltimore, Md., fifth pay- 
ment 155 00 

From Benjamin Swift, late of St. Albans, Vt 50 00 

From Miss Chloe White, late of Nelson, N. H Ill 00 

From Oliver Warner, late of Hadley, Mass 12 00 

From Mary Nettleton, late of Watertown, Conn 334 00 

From A. E. BaUard, late of Flemingsburg, Ky 323 00 

From Ruanah Canada, late of New Haven, Conn 441 60 

From Uri Beach, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y 100 00 

From Peter Johnston, late of Mansfield, Ohio 150 00 

From Walter Hubbell, late of Canandaigua, N. Y. . . . 40 00 

From A. Alden, late of Hallowell, Me 15 00 

From Dwight Foster, late of Palmer, Mass 141 64 

From John E. Strickler, late of Shelby ville, Tenn. 50 00 

From Henry Smith, late of Camillus, N. Y 100 00 

From William G. Do^vnes, late of Prattsburg, N. Y. . . 40 00 

From Ephraim Weston, late of Reading, Mass 25 00 

From Edward Cobb, late of Abington, Mass 175 00 

From Lydia Pratt, late of Reading, Mass 20 00 

From Robert Charlton, late of Xenia, Ohio 50 00 

From John Campbell, late of Piqua, Ohio 40 00 

From Ethan Andrew, Middleburg, Vt 72 00 

From Mrs. Sophia S. Van Cleef, late of N. Hackensack, 

N. Y 100 00 

From William Canada, New Haven, Conn 1,350 00 

From Lydia A. Graves, late of Bergen, N. J 90 00 

From David Holbrook, late of Warwick county, Ind. . 360 00 

From Thomas Morris, late of Franklin county, Ohio. . 500 00 

From Charles Rush, late of Lyme, Ohio 20 00 

From Salome Peck, late of Southington, Conn 300 00 

From Mrs. Hannah Butler Pixley, late of Perry Cen- 
tre, N. Y 60 00 

From Philo Andrews, late of Davenport Centre, N. Y. 165 00 
From Mrs. Sarah Dewitt, late of Wawarsing, Ulster 

county, N. Y 114 00 

From James M'Vean, late of Caledonia, N. Y 25 00 

From Mrs. Harriet S. Irvine, late of Rockingham coun- 
ty, Va 92 10 

z 



354 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Eev. J. L. Pomeroy, late of West Springfield, 

Mass 1300 00 

From Mrs. Margaret M'Ferson, late of Brown county, 

Ohio 1,358 65 

From Mrs. Charlotte Pratt, late of New York 30 00 

From Mrs. Martha Waldo, late of Prattsburg, N, Y. . . 13 00 

From Nathaniel Baily, late of Waterford, N. Y 200 00 

From Daniel Eobertson, late of Oswegatchie, N. Y. . . 19 12 

From Margaret Ten Eyck, late of Albany, N. Y 1,000 00 

From Abigail Almy, late of Little Compton, E.I 100 00 

From Susan Hart, late of Canandaigua, N. Y 100 00 

From Abraham S. Pearce, late of Niskayuna, N. Y. . . 100 00 

From Miss Susan Baldwin, late of Newark, N. J 356 25 

From Mrs. Hepsibah Fuller, late of Sturbridge, Mass. . 33 33 

From Lafayette Dikeman, late of Eutland, Vt 25 00 

From Jabez Goodsell, late of Buffalo, N. Y. 8,000 00 

From John Eobertson, late of Argyle, N. Y 500 00 

From John Lester, " - " 25 00 

From Isaac Keith, late of North Bridgewater, Mass., ten 

shares of Fall Eiver Eail-road stock 1,000 00 

From William Avery, late of Conway, Mass 114 78 

From James Cuthbert, late of Prince Wm. parish, S. C 2,500 00 

From Pliny Day, late of Hatfield, Mass 200 00 

From Joseph Fenton, late of Genesee county, Mich. . . 50 00 

From Miss Elizabeth Waldo, Worcester, Mass 2,307 14 

From Samuel Howland, late of New York 2,500 00 

From S. W. Dana, late of Troy, N. Y 60 00 

From Ira Lee, late of Fulton, N. Y 30 00 

From David Porter, late of Middleburg, Conn 53 00 

From Uri Beach, late of East Bloomfield, N. Y 100 00 

From John Caldwell, late of Eising Sun, Ohio 93 60 

From Henry A. Post, late of North Coventry, Conn. . 1,000 00 

From Ephraim Harriott, late of Woodbridge, N. J. . . . 350 00 

From Nancy Colville, late of Jacksonville, 111 50 00 

From Hannah Curtis, late of New York 200 00 

From Theodore Wolcott, late of Farmington, Ohio ... 100 00 
From Thomas Hanna, late of Alleghany City, Penn., 

balance 380 00 

From Lydia Lush, late of Albany, N. Y 300 00 

From Mrs. Sarah N. Nichols, late of Damariscotta, Me. 30 00 

In 1855 : 

From Ann Kimball Allen, late of Eandolph, Mass. ... 100 00 



LEGACIES. 355 

From William Avery, late of Conway, Mass $183 00 

From Mrs. Laura Abbott, late of Ellington, Conn. . . . 600 00 

From Ethan Adams, late of Middlebury, Vt 295 00 

From Mrs. Mary Adams, late of Salisbury, N. C 100 00 

From Moses Barnes, late of West Brookfield, Mass 300 00 

From Jeremiah Baldwin, late of Fredonia, N. Y 50 00 

From Joel Bradley, late of Lee, Mass. . , 75 00 

From Thomas Beer, late of Ashland, Ohio 1 00 

From Betsey Ann Benham, late of West Haven, Conn. 100 00 

From Mrs. L. Buckingham, late of Lebanon, Conn. ... 100 00 
From Hon. William B. Banister, late of Newburyport, 

Mass 3,900 00 

From Uri Beach, late of East Bloomfield, N. J 150 00 

From Sarah A. Bonner, late of Chatham, N. J 50 00 

From William Burnsides, late of Londonderry, Ohio . . 100 00 

From Miss Sarah Ann Bennett, late of Edmeston, N. Y. 205 00 . 

From Mrs. Sarah Biller, late of St. Petersburg, Eussia . 73 00 

From INIiss Elizabeth Bivinghaus, late of Salem, N. C. . 300 00 

From William Bigelow, late of East Hartford, Conn. . . 1,000 00 

From Joseph Bunch, late of Nansemond county, Va.. . 437 11 

From John Boardman, late of Glover, Yt. 50 00 

From William Canada, late of New Haven, Conn. . . . 500 00 

From Margaret H. Card, late of Hartland, Conn 100 00 

From Lorenzo Converse, late of New Braintree, Mass, . 55 00 

From Edward Cobb, late of Abington, Mass 250 00 

From John Campbell, late of Shelby county, Ohio ... 40 00 

From ]\Irs. E. Kemper Curtis, late of Walnut Hill, Ohio 550 00 

From William H. Craven, Columbus, Miss 99 25 

From Watson Case, late of Delaware county, Ohio ... 90 00 

From Dennis Carico, late of Jersey county, HI 50 00 

From Mrs. Margaret Carswell, late of Philadelphia, Penn. 200 00 

From James W. Dominick, late of New York 100 00 

From John Davidson, late of Bergen county, N. J. . . . 100 00 

From S. W. Dana, late of Troy, N. Y , 60 00 

From John Donnally, late of Millersburg, Ohio 190 00 

From Rev. Mr. Evans, late of Washington, Mo 10 00 

From Mrs. Sophia S. Follett, late of North Pitcher, 

N. Y., two life members 60 00 

From Mrs. Rhoda W. Fowler, late of Livonia, N. Y. . . 100 00 

From Margaret Fritz, late of Rye, N. Y 100 00 

From Dr. Patrick Gannon, late of Albany, N. Y 100 00 

From David Ganages, late of Adrian, Mich 92 63 



356 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

From Mrs. Mary Greenleaf, late of Newburyport, Mass. $500 00 

From Ann B. Gilman, late of Newmarket, N. H 131 61 

From Jabez Goodell, late of Buffalo, N. Y 8,000 00 

From Timothy Hurd, late of Reading, N. Y., interest . 3 50 

From Churchill Houston, late of Philadelphia, Penn. . 1,412 62 

From Samuel Hadlock, late of Cranberry Isles, Mass.. 10 00 
From Mrs. Mary Hanna, late of Harrison county, 

Ohio 5 00 

From Jeremiah H. Hallock, late of Steubenville, Ohio. 96 47 

From A. Kedzie, late of Clarke county, Ohio 100 00 

From Mary Langdon, late of Plymouth, Conn 300 00 

From Hervey Lyon, late of Rochester, N. Y 200 04 

From Benjamin R. Merrill, late of Fulton, 111 40 00 

From Lucy Ann Mead, late of Delaware county, Ohio, 

life member 493 00 

From Charlotte Mills, late of Camden, Ark 27 00 

From Mrs. Charlotte Mercein, late of Brooklyn, N. Y. 300 00 

From Miss Letitia M'Neely, late of Gettysburg, Penn. 761 76 

From Mrs. Christian M'Nabb, late of York, N. Y 10 00 

From John M'Comb, late of New York 250 00 

From Mrs. Charlotte Myers, late of Presbyterian ch., 

Lithopolis, Ohio 106 00 

From Mary Nettleton, late of Watertown, Conn 267 00 

From Russell H. Nevins, late of New York 2,000 00 

From Rufus Powers, late of Enfield, Mass 260 00 

From Benjamin H. Punchard, late of Andover, Mass.. 32 00 

From Mrs. Hannah Pixley, late of Perry Centre, N. Y. 500 00 

From Margaret G. Paul, late of Green county, Ohio . . 100 00 

From D. D. Parks, late of Missouri 25 00 

From Mrs. Bethania Pannill, late of Pittsylvania coun- 
ty, Ya 75 00 

From Salome Peck, late of Southington, Conn 69 40 

From James Ferine, late of Livonia, N. Y 172 15 

From Albert Peebel, late of Milton, Tenn 61 66 

From Christy Ann Robertson, late of Argyle, N. Y. . . 100 00 

From " Rider Estate," Granville, N. Y 248 00 

From John F. Roberts, late of Farmington, N. H 100 00 

From William P. Rea, late of Green county, Ohio 87 99 

From Catharine Rose, late of Trenton, N. J 50 00 

From Israel Searl, Southampton, Mass 50 00 

From Miss Harriet L. Smith, late of Troy, N. Y 500 00 

From Rev. Orlando Starr, late of Danbury, Conn 25 00 



LEGACIES. 357 

From Andrew Thompson, late of Pownal, Me $50 00 

From Cyrus Williams, late of Stockbridge, Mass 5 18 

From Oliver Warner, late of Hadley, Mass 13 00 

From Henry Whittlesey, late of Catskill, N. Y 500 00 

From Mss Jane K. Welsh, late of Northampton, Mass. . 200 00 

From Lucia Weed, late of Winsted, Conn 100 00 

From Miss Helen Wells, late of Stockbridge, Mass 80 00 

From Deacon N. S. Weed, late of Pulaski, N. Y 50 00 

From Lucy O. Whipple, late of Westminster, Vt 50 00 

From Nathan Wood, late of Watertown, Conn 175 00 

From Willis G. Wade, late of Eose, Wyoming coun- 
ty, N.Y 120 00 



358 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



CHAPTEE XXXIV. 



RECEIPTS OF SOCIETY. 

The following table presents a view of the receipts 
of the American Bible Society from all sources, in- 
cluding sales of books, donations, legacies, life mem- 
berships and directorships, for each succeeding year 
from the first anniversary down to the present time, 
embracing a period of thirty-nine years. 



1st Year 


, 1816-17... 


$37,779 35 


20th Yeai 


, 1835-36... 


$101,771 48 


2d 


a 


1817-18... 


36,564 


30 


21st 


(( 


1836-37... 


83,259 79 


3d 


ii 


1818-19... 


53,223 


94 


22d 


(( 


1S37-38... 


79,545 24 


4th 


(( 


1819-20... 


41,361 


97 


23d 


u 


1838-39... 


91,904 57 


5th 


(( 


1820-21... 


47,009 


20 


24th 


u 


1839-40... 


94,880 24 


6th 


(( 


1821-22... 


40,682 


34 


25th 


u 


1840-41... 


116,485 05 


7th 


ii 


1822-23... 


62,021 


75 


26th 


Ii. 


1841-42... 


132,637 08 


8th 


a 


1823-24... 


42,416 


95 


27th 


a 


1842-43... 


124,728 77 


9th 


ii 


1824-25... 


44,833 


08 


28th 


(( 


1843-44... 


153,678 05 


10th 


11 


1825-26... 


63,639 


85 


29th 


(( 


1844-45... 


159,738 68 


nth 


a 


1826-27... 


60,194 


13 


30th 


ii 


1845-46... 


196,182 48 


12th 


u 


1827-28... 


75,879 


93 


31st 


ii 


1846-47... 


203,494 63 


13th 


u 


1828-29... 


101,426 


72 


32d 


a 


1847-48... 


251,804 68 


14th 


a 


1829-30... 


143,449 


81 


33d 


a 


1848-49... 


236,428 94 


15th 


(1 


1830-31... 


116,900 


74 


34th 


a 


1849-50... 


284,459 59 


16th 


u 


1831-32... 


86,875 


18 


35th 


a 


1850-51... 


276,882 53 


17th 


u 


1832-33=.. 


83,556 


03 


36th 


ii 


1851-52... 


308,744 81 


18th 


(( 


1833-34... 


86,537 


63 


37th 


a 


1852-53... 


346,542 42 


19th 


u 


1834-35... 


98,306 29 











GRANTS OF MONEY. 

The following table will show the grants which the 
society has made from time to time to the different 
Missionary Boards, Bible Societies, &c., for the va- 
rious purposes specified. From the organization of 
the society up to the year 1848, the time this history 
was written, grants had been made reaching an amount 
upward of $300,000. Since that time the following 
list will show what has been done in the way of ap- 



RECEIPTS OF SOCIETY. 359 

propriations, and how the money has been applied. 
The grants made prior to 1848 were for the benefit 

of missionary stations in the Levant, and at Bom- 
bay, Madi^as, Ceylon, Lodiana, Burmah, and Siam, 
in India, and for those in China, and at the Sand- 
wich Islands, as well as in France and Russia. 

In 1849: 

Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, Northern India $1,000 00 

Eev. Dr. Dill, for Irish Scriptui'es 188 59 

Jewish Mission in Turkey, for Hebrew-Spanish Old 

Testament 5,705 00 

Jewish jMission in Turkey, for Hebrew-German Old 

Testament 14,326 00 

Jaffna Bible Society, for Tamil Scriptures 1,250 00 

China, for new version 10,000 00 

In 1850 : 
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 

for Turkey and India 6,700 00 

Jaffna Bible Society 1,250 00 

Mssion at Madras 780 00 

Presbyterian Board of Missions for India 4,000 00 

Sandwich Islands 1,000 00 

Persia, for Nestorian Mission 1,000 00 

Armenian Scriptures, for Smyrna 2,000 00 

Arabic translation 500 00 

South Africa, for translation of Scriptures 500 00 

Methodist Episcopal Missionary Society, for China . . . 2,000 00 

France, Bible Society. 1,000 00 

In 1851: 

French and Foreign Bible Society 3,500 00 

Different Missionary Boards, for Methodist Church. . . 5,000 00 

Bishop Boone, for translation of Book of Acts 500 00 

In 1852 : 

Presbyterian Board of Missions for India 5,000 00 

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 

for Turkey and India 10,000 00 

Bible Commission at St. Petersburg, Kussia 2,400 00 

Foreign Missionary Boards in this country. 5,000 00 

Arabic translation in Syria and Turkey 1,000 00 

Methodist Episcopal Church, Germany 1,000 00 



360 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

French and Foreign Bible Society, for circulating the 

Scriptures in France $5,500 00 

In 1853 : 

Modern Syriac New Testament „ . . 800 00 

JaiFna Bible Society 1,000 00 

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 

for India and China 3,700 00 

Methodist Episcopal Church, for China and Germany. 2,000 00 

Protestant Episcopal Church, for China 1,000 00 

Presbyterian Board of Missions, for China and India . . 4,000 00 

Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for China 1,000 00 

French and Foreign Bible Society 2,000 00 

In 1854: 

Baptist Missions in Greece 684 00 

Methodist Episcopal Mission in Germany 1,000 00 

Turkish Bible, Constantinople 3,000 00 

Hebrew-Spanish Old Testament 1,200 00 

Syria, for Scriptures in Arabic 500 00 

Ceylon, Madras, and Madeira 3,400 00 

Northern India, Presbyterian Board 4,000 00 

China 10,000 00 

In 1855: 

Diodati's Italian Testament in Geneva 3,000 00 

Modern Greek Testament, for American Mission 3,000 00 



From the above it will be seen that the amount 
appropriated during the past seven years was as 
follows: 1849, $31,369 59; 1850, $17,900; 1851, 
$5,500; 1852, $30,900; 1853, $15,500; 1854, 
$28,189; 1855, $6,000, making in all the sum of 
$128,358 59, and a total, since the organization of 
the society, of nearly $500,000. 



BIBLE SOCIETY RECORD. 3^^ 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

BIBLE SOCIETY RECORD. 

In 1819, the board, impressed with the belief that 
ill proportion as the mind of the public became in- 
formed in regard to the nature and operations of the 
society, public feeling would be excited, and a corre- 
sponding activity produced in behalf of the Bible cause, 
deemed it important to issue a periodical. They ac- 
cordingly directed the publication of a paper entitled 
'' Quarterly Extracts." 

The good effects of the measure were soon felt, and 
the board urged upon the members of the society the 
propriety of contributing, by their example and influ- 
ence, to give this organ of the cause a wide circulation. 

In 1821, the Quarterly was superseded by a "month- 
ly" half sheet. In this the managers imitated the 
course pursued by the British and Foreign Bible So- 
ciety. 

The publication of a paper devoted to the interests 
of the society has been continued to the present day. 
It has, however, undergone some changes for the better. 
From a "monthly" it has become a semi-monthly, and 
its caption, which is embellished with an engraving of 
a large open Bible, emblematic of the universal diflu- 
sion of the Scriptures, is that of ^^ Bible Society RecordJ^ 

It is in the royal octavo form, and contains from 
twelve to sixteen closely printed pages. 

Its editor, the Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., is admirably 
well qualified for the post. For twenty-two years he 
has been associated with the society as corresponding 
secretary. Before his connection with the society he 
was extensively engaged in Bible distribution in South 



362 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

America and Mexico, as the agent of the American 
Board of Foreign Missions. His extensive and thor- 
ough acquaintance with the operations of the society, 
both domestic and foreign, and his long experience 
combined, render him a most valuable acquisition to 
the Bible cause. He is a gentleman of liberal and en- 
larged views. His constant and unremitting devotion 
to the interests of an institution so truly catholic and 
benevolent in its character, are of such a nature as to 
produce the most happy effect upon his mind and 
heart, so that "sectional prejudices and sectarian jeal- 
ousies" can find no room for admission. His Christian 
frankness and urbanity are just such as the friends of 
the Bible cause might expect from one whose relation 
to the society gives him the greatest influence in the 
management of its concerns. 

The Bible Society Record, in addition to editorial 
matter, contains extracts from letters at home and 
abroad — reports from auxiliary societies in different 
parts of the country — also extracts from agents' letters, 
and from those of missionaries and other correspond- 
ents in foreign countries. The financial department 
of the Record is under the supervision of Joseph Hyde, 
Esq., the able and experienced General Agent and 
Treasurer of the society. 

It furnishes a list of all contributions, and the 
amounts of donations and remittances for Bibles from 
the different auxiliaries — -the names of all who are 
made life members or life directors — a notice of all 
new auxiliaries and all newly-appointed agents — the 
amount of sales effected through individuals or agents 
— ^returns from depositories — amount received from so- 
cieties not auxiliary for Bibles — donations from socie- 
ties not auxiliary — returns for books donated — con 
gregational collections — rules for correspondence — al 
notices pertaining to the business of the society, &c. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 3^3 

It is issued gratuitously, and sent to the officers of 
all auxiliaries, to life directors, life members, agents, 
and a copy containing the acknowledgment of remit- 
tances from all donors. The Bible Record has been 
productive of much good in creating and keeping up 
an interest in the great cause, and is sought for with 
eagerness by all whose hearts are interested in the 
work of Bible distribution. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 

BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 



The society, very soon after its organization, laid 
the foundation for a library. The following by-law 
of the Board of Managers will serve to show the na- 
ture of that library : " There shall continue to be kept 
a library of the society, in which shall be placed and 
preserved all books not for sale belonging to the soci- 
ety, and all manuscripts and other interesting papers 
which the society. Board of Managers, or correspond- 
ing secretary may deem worthy of preservation. There 
shall also be placed in the library a copy of the first 
edition of every book published by the society, and a 
copy of every other edition thereof in which material 
alterations shall have been made in the stereotype 
plates." 

Another object of the library was to collect, by do- 
nation or otherwise, valuable works on Biblical liter- 
ature, particularly those of a philological and herme- 
neutical character, for purposes of translation and ref- 
erence. Ministers of all denoniinations have access to 
this library for purposes of reference. The Biblical 
interchange kept up with the different Bible societies 



364 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



in the world has brought to its alcoves copies of all 
the versions which have been published, besides many 
manuscripts and rare and valuable documents from 
the different missionary stations in pagan lands receiv- 
ing assistance from the society. 

In addition to its philological and exegetical depart- 
ments, embracing grammars, lexicons, and commenta- 
ries in the various languages, it has a fine collection 
of Patristic theology, &c. 

The library has been increasing from year to year 
by donations, embracing several thousand of the most 
rare and valuable books. 

It is, however, but the mere nucleus of what, in the 
providence of God, it is destined to be, and the man- 
agers hope that, among other objects of benefaction 
connected with the society, it will not be forgotten. 

The following catalogue embraces a complete list 
of all the books in the library, received by donation or 
otherwise : 

Biblical. 

Biblia Polyglotta, Waltoni, 6 vols., folio, 1657. 
Novum Testamentum Polyglotton, 2 vols., 1597. 
Biblia Pentapla Polyglotta, 3 vols., 1711. 
Aimara and Spanish Gospel of Luke, 1829. 
Cherokee Gospel of Matthew, 1832. 
Choctaw Gospels, 1831. 
Chinese Scriptures (Morrison's), 21 parts. 
Testament, 3 setts, 1814. 

" Pentateuch. 

" Bible (Marshman's), 5 parts. 

" Scripture Lessons, 3 parts. 

" Specimens (Medhurst and others). 

" New Testament, 1838. 

" " " revised version, 1838. 

Cingalese Testament, 1817. 
Coptic and Arabic Psalter, 1826. 
" Gospels, 1829. 
Delaware Epistles of John, 1818. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 3^5 

Esquimaux Matthew, Mark, and Luke, 1813. 

Eliot's Indian Bible, 1635. 

Mohawk Gospel of John, 1804. 

Mohegan Bible, 1685. 

Seneca Sermon dn the Mount, 1829. 

Amharic Testament, 1829. 

Arabic Bible, 1811. 

Psalterium Scialac, Sionita, et Ar. Lat., 1614. 

Arabic Bible, 1820. 

" Testament, 1816. 
" Psalter, 1819. 
" Testaments, 1837. 
Armenian Novum Testamentum, 1828. 
BibUa Sacra, 3 copies, Armenian, 1805, 1814, and 1817. 
Novum Testamentum, 1814. 
Armeno-Turkish Testament, 1831. 
Armenian Old and New Testament, 1837. 
Four Gospels, Armenian, 1838. 
New Testament, Armenian, 1838. 
Assam Testament, 1819. 
Bengalee Gospels of Matthew and John, 2 copies, 1819. 

Bible, 1818. 

Pentateuch, 1819. 

Psalms, 1826. 

four Gospels and Pentateuch, 1830. 

Bible, 1837. 

Pentateuch, 1838. 

Gospels, Acts, Romans, Corinthians, 1838. 
Bohemian Bible, 1813. 
BuUom and English Bible, 1816. 
Burman Testament, 1832. 

Bible, 1834. 
Calmuc Gospel of Matthew, 1815. 
Carelian " " " 1820. 

Carshun and Syriac Testament, 1824. 

Testament, 1827. 
Bashmera Testament, 1837. 
Danish Bible, 1633. 

" 1799. 
New Testament, ^1814. 
Bibha (Sextende Oplag.), 'l819. 
Biblia, 1829. 
Bibha (Dutch), from 1603 to 1734, 14 versions. 



366 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Nieuwe Testament, 2 copies, 1734. 

1778. 
Biblia, 2 copies, 1778. 
Der Psalmen, 1778. 

New Testament, Tyndal's version, 1526. 
Bishops' Bible, 1575. 

English Bibles, 103 different versions, from 1578 to 1849. 
Wastne Testament, Dorpatian-Esthonian, 1815. 
Psalterium Davidis Ethiopice, 1815. 
Finnish New Testament, 1815. 
Finnish Bible, 1817. 

New Testament, 1822. 
La Sainte Bible et Nouveau Testament, from 1565 to 1849, in 

9 different versions, 43 editions. 
GaeUc Bible, 1807. 

" New Testament, 1813. 
" Bible, 1819. 
Georgian New Testament, in ecclesiastical character, 1816. 

" " " in civil character. 

Die Bibel und das Neue Testament, in several versions and 24 

editions, from 1531 to 1849. 
Novum Testamentum GrsBcum, 2 vols., 1569. 

" " Montani, interlin. interp., 2 vols., 1622. 

Vater, 1824. 
Tittman, 1824. 
Griesbach, 1825. 
Knapp, 1829. 
Ancient and modern Greek New Testament, 7 copies, 1810. 

folio, 1814. 
' " " " " " " 1817. 

(( (( (c (c (( (c 18'^7 

" " " " " Hilarion's, 2 copies, 

1828. 
Biblia Graeca Latinse, 1682. 
Vetus Testamentum Grsecum Vaticanum, 1683. 

Alexandrinum, 1821. 
Psalterium Grsecum cum New Testament, 2 copies, 1831. 
Testimantitak (New Testament in Greenland language), 1822. 
Gujurattee New Testament, 2 copies, 1820. 
Hanti Testament. 
Harotee New Testament, 1821. 
Hawaiian New Testament, 10 copies, 1832. 
Biblia Hebraica, 1566. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 3^7 

Biblia Helbraica, marginal notes, 1607. 

" " edition Simonis, 2 copies, 1766. 

Hebrew New Testament, 1817. 
Hebrew New Testament and Spanish Psalms, 1837. 
Pentateuch in Hindee, 2 copies, 1812. 
Isaiah " " 

New Testament " " 1826. 

Proverbs " " 1826. 

Hindoostanee New Testament, 1819. 

" and Enghsh Gospel of Matthew. 

Pentateuch, 1837. 
Old Testament, 1837. 
New " 1838. 

" Proverbs. 

" Isaiah. 

" Genesis. 

" Psalms. 

Matthew. 
Icelandic Bible, 1813. 
Irish Bible, Roman character, 1807. 
Tiomna Nuadh, 1813. 
An Biobla, Roman character, 1817. 
Tiomna Nuadh (New Testament, Irish character), 1818. 
An Biobla, Irish character, 1823. 
Psalms in Irish. 

Leabhuir an Tsean Tiomna, vernacular character, 1827. 
Genesis in Irish, vernacular character. 
Irish New Testament, 1830. 
Javanese Testament, 2 copies. 

" Gospel of John. 

II Nuovo Testamento, 2 copies, 1813. 

" " Itahano, plates, 2 copies, 1816. 

Italian New Testament, 1818. 
La Sacra Biblia, 2 copies, 1819. 
Italian and Latin Psalms, 1822. 
Kashmee^a Testament, 1821. 
Laponian New Testament, 1755. 

Biblia Sacra, 15 editions and 8 versions, from 1476 to 1849. 
Lettonian New Testament, 1816. 
Mahratta Gospel of Matthew and Acts, 1816. 
Malay Bible (Elkitab), Arabic character, 3 copies, 1817 to 1849. 
" New Testament, Fwoman character, 2 copies, 1820 and 
1831. 



36g AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Mandjur Gospel of Matthew, 1822. 
Manks Bible, 1819. 

" Testament (Conaant Noa), 1815. 
Moldavian New Testament, 2 copies, diiferent dates, 1817. 
Mongolian Scriptures, 1835. 
Mooltanee New Testament, 2 copies, 1819. 
Multan 

Mordvinian Gospels, 1821. 
Murat-hee New Testament, 2 copies, 1830. 
Negro-English. New Testament, 1829, 
Oordoo Scriptures. 
" Psalms. 
" Isaiah. 
" Proverbs. 
Orissa Scriptures. 

Persian Scriptures, 14 editions, in 6 versions, from 1815 to 1849. 
PoHsh Bible, 2 copies, 1810 and 1822. 

New Testament, 1815. 
Portuguese Scriptures, 4 editions, in 3 versions, from 1813 to 1823. 
Punjabee New Testament, 1811. 
Pushtoo " " 2 copies, 1818. 

Revalian '' " 2 versions, 1790, 1816. 

Romanese Old Testament, 1818. 

New Testament, 1820. 
Ancient and modern Russian Testament, 1822. 
Psalter in modern Russian, 1822. 
Samogitian New Testament, 1816. 
Siamese Gospel of Luke. 

Matthew. 
Acts, 1836. 
" Ten Commandments. 
Slavonian Bible, 2 copies. 
" New Testament. 

modern Eussian, 1822. 
Psalms, 1822. 
Biblia Vulgata Latina en Espanol, 1794. 
Spanish Testament, 2 copies, in 2 versions, 1817. 
Scriptures, 1823. 
Luke and Acts, 1823. 
" New Testament (Amat's version), 1825. 
Gospel of Luke in one of the Spanish dialects, 1835. 
Swedish Bible, 2 copies, in 2 versions, 1812, 1828. 
Novum Testamentum Syriacum, 1663. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. ;> (3 9 

Psalterium Syriacum, 1768. 

Syriac New Testament, 1816. 

Syriace Psalterium, 1822. 

Carshun and Syriac New Testament, 1824. 

Syro-Chaldaic Gospels (Nestorian character), 1829. 

Gospel of Luke in Otaheitan, 1820. 

" Matthew and John in Taheitan, 1820. 
Acts of the Apostles in Taheitan. 
Oremburg Tartar Testament, 1820. 
Telinga New Testament, 2 copies, 1818. 
Tcheremisian Gospels, 1821. 
Turkish New Testament, 1814. 
Turco- Armenian Testament, 1819. 
Turco-Greek Testament, 1825. 
Turkish Bible, 1827. 

Vikanera New Testament, 3 copies, 1820. 
Y Bibl Cyssegr Lan a Llyfr Gweddi Gyffriedin, 7 editions, and 

3 versions, from 1718 to 1849. 
Moldavian New Testament. 
Wallachian " 

Hebrew-Spanish Psalms, 2 copies. 
Four Gospels, in ancient Armenian. 
Biblia Sacra Vatabla, 2 vols., foHo. 
Douay New Testament. 
French and Hebrew Pentateuch. 
Hebrew Manuscript (Book of Esther). 
Grebo Gospel of Matthew. 
Acts of the A postles in modern Greek. 
Book of Genesis in Armeno-Turkish. 
Psalms in Mongolian. 

Acts of the Apostles in Tamul and English languages. 
Genesis and Epistle of Timothy in Tamul. 
Greco-Turkish Bible. 

" •* New Testament. 

Ancient Armenian New Testament. 
Spanish New Testament, by Valera, 1602. 
by Amat, 1837. 
" Epistle to the Romans. ^ 

Clark's Bible, 1760. 
Siamese Gospel of Mark. 
Field's Bible, 1660. 

Gospel of Luke and Acts in Hindoostanee. 
Psalms in Arabic. 

Aa 



^fjQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY, 

Pentateuch in Armeno-Turkish. 

Gospel of Mark in Siamese. 

Hawaiian Bible. 

Spanish Bible, Cassindon de Regne, 1522. 

Greek Testament, cmn notis, 1739. 

Old Testament in Tamul, 1839. 

Ancient German Bible, 1661. 

New Testament in Tamul. 

Gospel of Mark, Luke, and Acts in Tamul, 7 copies. 

" John in Hindoostanee, 6 copies. 
Mongolian Scriptures. 

New Testament in Chinese, complete in 2 vols. 
Psalms in modern Armenian. 
Hebrew- Spanish Pentateuch. 
Armeno-Turkish Old Testament. 
English foHo Bible. 
Armenian Testament, 1839. 
Bengalee Testament. 

four Gospels and Acts, 1837. 

Genesis, 1840. 
Hindoostanee Testament, 1840. 

" four Gospels and Acts, 7 copies. 

Sanscrit Testament, 1841. 

Psalms, 1840. 
Siamese Gospel of Matthew. 
Acts of the Apostles in Arabic, 1841. 
Galatians in modern Syriac. 
Gospels in Acra tongue. 
Folio edition of Greek Testament, 1703. 
Gospel of Matthew in Cherokee. 
English black-letter Bible. 
Bambas modern Greek Testament. 
Greek and Latin New Testament, 1544. 
Isaiah and Deuteronomy in Hindoostanee. 
Deuteronomy and Daniel in Hindi. 
Tamul Bible. 
Hawaiian Bible. 
Folio German Bible, 1765. 
Hebrew Canticles. 
Foho Latin Bible, 1509. 
Psalms in Hindi. 
Portuguese Bible, 4 copies. 

" Testament, 4 copies. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 37I 

Syriac New Testament, 1569. 

Gospels in Chinese. 

Old Testament in Chinese. 

Gospel of Mark in Abenaquis language. 

Wendish Bible, 1589. 

Malay Bible, 2 vols., 1733. 

Drury Testament, 1847. 

Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, 2 vols. 

Persian Old Testament. 

" New Testament. . 
Tamul " 

Pentateuch in modern Armenian. 
Syriac New Testament. 
Latin Bible, 2 copies (rare). 
Greek Testament, 1710. 
Gospels in Spanish. 
Quarto Protestant French Bible. 
The Hexapla. 

Kneeland's Greek and Enghsh Testament according to Griesbacli. 
John's Gospel in Sgau. Karen. 
Pere Amelot's New Testament, French, 1666. 
Armeno-Turkish Old Testament, 2 vols. 
Persian Old Testament. 
Tamul New Testament. 
Persian " '« 

Russian and English Testament. 
Pentateuch in modern Armenian. 
Syriac New Testament. 
Dutch " " 2 copies. 

Latin Bible, 2 copies (rare). 

Greecum Novum Testamentum Varise Lectiones, 1710. 
Edinburgh copy of Bible, with copious references, 1796. 
English octavo Bible, critical notes. 

Four Evangehsts, Spanish, copious notes. , 

Quarto Protestant French Bible, 1696, 

Philological. 
Castelli Lexicon Heptaglotton, 2 vols., 1669. 
Cocceius's Hebrew Lexicon, 1714. 
Schaaf Lexicon Syriacum, 1708. 
Diccionario de la Academia Espanola, 1823. 
Dictionnaire Francais Armenian, 2 vols., 1812. 
Judson's Burman and English Dictionary, 1826. 



372 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



Adam's Dictionary of Hindee Language, 1829. 

Hindee Grammar. 

Grammar and Vocabulary of New Zealand Language, 1820. 

Bengalee and English Vocabulary, 2 copies, 1810. 

De Sacy's Grammaire Arabe, 2 copies, 1810. 

Ludolph's Ethiopic Grammar, 2 copies, 1702. 

Jones's Persian Grammar, 1828. 

Palermo's Italian Grammar, 1777. 

M'Curtin's Elements of Irish Language, 1728. 

Neilson's Introduction to Irish Language, 1808. 

Aucher's English- Armenian Grammar, 1817. 

Donnegan's Greek Lexicon, 1835. 

Morrison's Grammar of Chinese Language, 1815. 

Johnson's Dictionary, 2 vols., 1819. 

Negri's Modern Greek Grammar, 1828. 

Oscanean's Armenian Grammar. 

Cocceius's Hebrew Lexicon. 

Sir William Jones's Persian Grammar. 

Sharp on Greek Article. 

Richardson's English Dictionary. 

Newman's Spanish and English Dictionary. 

Portuguese and English Dictionary. 

Russian Grammar. 

Gilchrist's Philosophical Etymology. 

Low Dutch and English Dictionary. 

Syriac Grammar. 

Danish Grammar. 

French and Portuguese Grammar. 

Susoo Grammar. 

Symonds on New Testament Translation. 

Criticisms on Translations. 

Grebo Dictionary. 

Buxtorf 's Lexicon in Hebrew and Chaldaic. 

Rogers's French Dictionary. 

Roy's Hebrew and Enghsh Dictionary. 

Collins's Hebrew and Chaldaic Lexicon. 

Syriac Lexicon. 

Syriac Chrestomathy. 

Polyglott Grammar of Ten Languages. 

Hebrew and Chaldaic Lexicon in Commentary. 

Grammar of the Moskito Language. 

" " Santeax " 

Portuguese Dictionary. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 3^3 

Russian and English Dictionary. 

Parkhurst's and Frey's Hebrew Lexicon. 

Webster's Octavo Dictionar}^ 

Bush's Affinities of the Ancient British Language. 

The Hierophant. 

German and Enghsh Dictionary. 

"Walker's Rhetorical Grammar. 

Greek and Latin New Testament Lexicon, 1635. 

Russian and English Dictionary. 

Theological, Hhtoi-ical, Biographical, etc. 
Home's Introduction to the Critical Study of the Bible. 
Calvini Coramentarii in Pauli Epistolas, 1557. 
Works of the Early Christian Fathers in Greek and Latin, 26 

vols., 1783. 
Campbell on the Gospels. 
Tromminius's Greek Concordance. 
Caryl on Job, 1659. 
Fulke's New Testament Annotations of Rheimish Translation, 

foho, 1617. 
Dutch Annotations, 2 vols., 1657. 
Enarrationes in Psalmos, 1619. 
M'Ray's Translations and Interpretation, 1815. 
Clark's Commentary, 6 vols., 1818. 
Scott's " 6 vols., 1812. 

Sharp's Harmony of the Prophets and Apostles, Lat., 1624. 
Simon's Translation from Vulgate, 2 vols., 1730. 
Newcombe's Historical View of Translations, 1792. 
Lewis's History of Translations, 1739. 
Turton on the Text of the EngHsh Bible. 
Carpenter's Guide. 

Life and Labors of EHot, the Indian Missionary. 
Clerical Guide. 

Brief Exposition of the Minor Prophets. 
Jones's Ecclesiastical History. 

Owen's History of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 
Loskiel's History of Moravian Missions. 
Youth's Book of Natural Theology. 
History of Josiah. 
Vindication of the Sacred Books. 

" of Miracles. 

Objections to Hindooism. 
Hindooism and Christianity contrasted. 



374 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Shastra Nermaga, or Hindoo Scriptures. 

Essence of the Bible. 

Memoir of Petamba Singli. 

Reasons why not a Roman Catholic, in Syriac. 

Memoirs of Lord Teignmouth. 

Memorials of the Right Reverend Miles Coverdale. 

Papal Rome as it is. 

Oriental Customs. 

Life of Christ. 

Lives of the Apostles. 

Comelie a Lapide, Commentary on the Bible, 10 vols., fol. 

Pilgrim's Progress, in modern Greek. 

Life of Everts. 

Reformation in Spain. 

Debate on Baptism, by Campbell and Rice. 

Essay on our Lord's Discourse at Capernaum. 

Inquiry concerning True Religion, in Hindi. 

La Russe y les Jesuites. 

Protestant Memorial. 

Antiquities of the Christian Church. 

Annals of the English Bible. 

Blunt's Coincidences of the Old and New Testaments, 2 copies. 

Notices of distinguished Jewish Rabbis. 

Broughton's Works. 

Westminster Catechism, Hebrew. 

Larger " 

Ebaugh's Heavenly Incense. 

Downame's Treatise on a Godly Life, 

Adams's Explanation of the Christian Religion. 

" Commentary on the Lord's Prayer. 

" Jesus Christ, the only Deliverer. 
Scripture Lessons, Spanish. 
Collection of Sermons. 
History of Christ. 
Bush's Scripture Illustrations. 
Wakefield's Version of the New Testament, 3 vols. 
Francke's Guide to the Study of the Scriptures. 
The Old Testament, without points. 
Reprint of the Holy Scriptures, by Coverdale. 
Critici Sacri, 6 vols. 
Pradus on Ezekiel, 3 vols. 
Nolan on the Greek Vulgate. 
Todd's Vindication of English Translation. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 375 

Hared on the Psalms. 

Essay on New Translation. 

Berriman's Critical Dissertation. 

Gell on Amendment of English Translation. 

Brief Exegesis of the Parables, modern Greek. 

Synopsis of Sacred History. 

Summary of the Old Testament. 

History of the Patriarch Abraham. 

Chrysostom on the Scriptures. 

" Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. 

Commentary on the Minor Prophets, Latin. 
The Koran. 

Foulke's Defense of the English Translation of the Scriptures. 
Coray's Translation of the Epistles, with a Commentary. 
Bickersteth's Scripture Help, Greek. 

Hebrew Synagogue Service, with Hebrew Grammar and Notes, 
Targums, Jewish. 
Theological Definitions, Latin. * 

Miscellaneous. 
Holme's Archseologia Americana. 
Anderson's Observations and Greek Islands. 
Memoirs of Mrs. Anna Judson. 
History of the North American Indians. 
Worcester's Universal Gazetteer, 2 vols. 
Tanner's American Atlas. 

Annual Heports of the American Bible Society from 1816 to 1849. 
" " British and Foreign Bible Society from 

1804 to 1849. 
Annual Reports of the American Board of Commissioners for 

Foreign Missions from 1812 to 1849. 
Stewart's Historical Anecdotes. 

Dudley's Analysis of the System of the Bible Society. 
Norris's Letter to the Earl of Liverpool. 
Dealtry's Vindication of the Bible Society. 
Norris on the Bible Society. 
Work in Russian on ditto. 
Compendium of the Bible. 
Milner's Strictures on Marsh. 

Publications of the New England Tract Society, 7 vols. 
Book of Specimens of various Languages. 
Brantley's and Winslow's Objections to Baptist Version. 
New Testament for the Blind. 



376 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Tracts relating to Versions. 

American Bible Society Controversy. 

British and Foreign " " 

Transactions of the College of Professional Teachers, Cincinnati 

Vindication of Baptists from the Charge of Bigotry. 

Book of Mormon. 

Eclectic Review. 

Catalogue of the American Antiquarian Society. 

Monthly Extracts. 

Missionary Herald, 16 vols. 

Quarterly B-egister of the American Education Society, 4 vols. 

New York Observer, 2 vols. 

Armenian Reader. 

Repository of Useful Knowledge, 12 nos., Greek. 

Christian Philanthropist. 

Essay on the right Use of Property. 

Biographical Dictionary. 

Black's general Atlas. 

Miscellaneous Volumes, 85, Dutch. 

Divine Alphabet. 

The First Catechism. 

" Second " 
A Jubilee Medal, 1717. 
Mrs. Gardiner's Prose and Poems. 
New York Bible Society's Reports. 
Antiquities of the Christian Church. 
Annual Report of the Committee on Patents. 
Report of the Exploring Expedition to Oregon and California. 
Congressional Documents. 
Geographical Gazetteer. 
Report of the Netherlands Bible Society. 

Additions to Biblical Library. 

In 1849 : 
Atlas of the Holy Scriptures. 
Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature, 2 vols. 
Erasmus's Greek and Latin Testament, printed at Frankfort, 

167a. 
Bally' s Statistical French Geography, 2 vols. 
M. Gavin's Protestant, 2 vols. 
Bible in Latin and Spanish, 20 vols., duo., published in Mexico 

in 1835, procured by Rev. W. H. Norris. 
Spanish Dictionary of Newman, in 2 vols. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 377 

Bloomfield's Greek Testament, with Notes, in 2 vols. 

Five portions of the Scriptures printed at Lodiana, India, in 
Panjabe and Urdee, under the direction of the Missionaries 
of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign JNlissions. 

Protestant Spanish Testament, 8vo, published by the Society 
for Promotion of Christian Knowledge in London, 1847. 

Prayer-book in German, embellished, printed in 1763, present- 
ed by A. Robertson Walsh, Esq. 

The New Testament, in Kathi Hindi. 

Four Gospels and Acts, " " 

Gospel of Luke, " " 

Pomans and Hebrews, " " . 

Gospel of Matthew, " " 

Genesis and Exodus, " " 

Psalms and Proverbs, " " 

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, in Chinese, by Eev.W. M. 
Lowrie. 

Gospel of Matthew, in Tamil, Madras, printed at Mssion 
Press, 1847. 

Memoires du Antiquaris du Novel, from 1845 to 1847. 

" " 1844, Copenhagen, 1847. 

Guide to Northern Archseology, by the Royal Society of North- 
ern Antiquaries of Copenhagen, 1848. 

Sketches of North Carolina, by Wm. Henry Foot, 1846. 

Roper on Legacies, 2 vols., 1848. 

German Bible, translation by Dr. John F. Meyer. 

Memoir of Rev. Dr. jVIilnor, by Rev. J. S. Stone, D.D., from 
American Tract Society. 

Confession of Faith of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. 

Psalms and Hymns of the same, by Horace Hunt. 

Walker's Dictionary, by purchase. 
In 1850: 

Greek Testament, by Dr. N. Johnson. 

Book on CaUfornia. 

An Irish Bible, by Dr. Singer, Secretary H. B. S. 

Two copies of German Testament, by Rev. Mr. Jacoby. 

Gospel of Luke in the Kiraka Tongue, translated by the Rev. 
John L. Krapf. 

Gospel of Matthew in the Mpongwe Tongue, 2 vols., translated 
by Rev. Mr. Walker. 

Specimen Number of distinguished Americans, by the pro- 
prietors. 



378 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Dwight's Book on Armenia. 
Gospel in Kenika — Luke. 

In 1851 : 
Astronomical Chronology, by J. Kennedy, 1662. 
General View of the Holy Scriptures, 1640. 
English Folio Eoyal English Type, John Tiell, 1660. 
New Testament, 1659. 

" " 2 vols., 4to, by Thomas Koskett, 1747. 

Koran, folio, with Comments, printed at Bombay, by Eev. D. 

O. Allen. 
Koran, 8vo, from Bombay, printed at Bombay, by Rev. D. 0. 

Allen. , 

A portion of the Koran from Bombay, by Rev. D. O. Allen. 
Dissertation on the various readings of the Hebrew Manuscript, 

by Benjamin Kennicott, 8vo, Oxford, 1763. 
Webster's Dictionary, 4to, by purchase. 
Cruden's Concordance, imported. 
Robinson's Greek and English Lexicon. 
Four Evangelists in Spanish, with Notes, by Rev. G. H. Rule, 

printed at Gibraltar, presented by R. D. D. Lore, Buenos 

Ayres. 
Geneva New Testament, reprint, from version of 1567. 
Book of Revelation in Greek, with a new translation, by Sam- 
uel P. Triggles, London, 1814. 
A Grammar of the New Testament Dialect, by R. T. S. 

Green. 
Hebrew and English Psalter. 
Greek and English Testament. 
Remains of Nineveh, 2 vols., by H. Layard. 
Introduction to the Study of the Bible, by M. O. Allen. 
El Nuevo Testamento en Espanol, 1817, by a Friend. 
The Holy Bible, folio, Philadelphia, 169G, by Rev. Dr. C. C. 

Beatty, Rushville, Ohio. 
Descriptive Catalogue of the Duke of Sussex's Biblical Library, 

in 2 royal 8vo vols. 
Gospel of St. Matthew and part of St. Mark, by Sir John 

Clark. 

The following eleven Books are presented for the Library hy Rev. W- 
P. Strickland, Agent, Ohio. 
New Testament in Greek, 2 vols., by Abner Kneeland, Phila- 
delphia, 1823. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 379 

An Ethical and Mythological Work in Greek and Latin, 1671. 

Hebrew Lexicon, London, 1839. 

Commentary on the Minor Prophets, by Schmidie, Leipsic, 1698. 

Greek and German Lexicon of the New Testament, Frank- 
fort, 1781. 

Logical Analysis on the Epistle of Paul to the Romans, in 
Latin, 1668. 

Westminster Catechism in Latin, Philadelphia, 1813. 

Greek New Testament, arranged by Christian Ruveccio, old. 

Small Greek and Latin Lexicon, relating to idioms. 

Theological Definitions, by Dr. John Adolphi, 1707. 

Calvin's Institute, 4to. 
In 1852 : 

Schoolcraft's History of the Indian Tribes, 4to, from C. Lea, 
Esq. 

An Italian folio Bible, without Notes, of 1711. 

Small Vulgate, Latin, 4to, 1611. 

Strictures on Archbishop Wilberforce's Doctrine of the Incar- 
nation, presented by Kev. Dr. Turner. 

The Half Century. 

Two vols, of the Journal of the American Oriental Society, by 
E. E. Salisbury. 

Westwood's Illuminated Manuscripts. 

New Testament of Cone and Wyckoff. 

Pamphlet, by the Rev. Dr. Turner. 

Seventeen vols, of Chinese Repository. 

The Bible in the Family, by Rev. Dr. Boardman. 

New Testament, with Psalms in Metre, printed in Scotland, by 
authority. 

Spanish Testament, by the Society for Promoting Christian 
Knowledge. 

Historic de los Protestante Espanoles. 

Two numbers of a Spanish periodical, published in London. 

Genesis and Exodus in Hindi. 

Bible in TamU. 

French Bible, by New York Bible Society, 1815. 

King James's Bible, first edition. 

Sermon on the Inspiration of the Scriptures, presented by Rev. 
George A. Wimmer. 

Sermon on the Sabbath, presented by Rev. George A. Wimmer. 

Bohemian Bible, " " " 

Hungarian Bible, " " " 



380 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Part of a Hebrew Bible, presented by Mr. Martin. 

German Bible, folio edition. 

Modern Greek Bible, by Kev. Mr. Green. 

Discourses on Scripture prophecy, by Rev. Dr. Turner. 
In 1853 : 

German Bible, folio edition. 

Modern Greek Bible, by Rev. Mr. Green. 

Discourses on Scripture Prophecy, by Rev. Dr. Turner. 

Old Dutch Bible, folio, printed in 1718, presented by A. Coren, 
Ovid, N. Y. 

Three vols, of the Journal of the American Oriental Society, 
presented by Mr. Salisbury, Secretary. 

Remarks on Rev. W. P. Strickland's History of the American 
Bible Society, by G. Livermore. 

Remarks on Public Libraries, by the same. 

Reply to the Strictures of Lord Maher and others on the Mode 
of editing Washington's Papers, by Jared Sparks. 

Book of Exodus in Chinese. 

History of the Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes, 
by U. S. Commissioner Lee. 

Transactions of the Society of Northern Antiquarians at Co- 
penhagen. 

Dakota Grammar and Dictionary, by Rev. Mr. Riggs. 

New Testament in Marathic, two copies, from American Mis- 
sionaries. 

Account of Indian Tribes in Guiana, S. A. 

Remarks on the Publication and Circulation of the Sacred 
Scriptures, by G. Livermore. 

First Bulletin of American Geographical and Statistical Society. 

Phonetic Bible — London, 1850 — presented by Professor Bush. 

Rival Esthonian New Testament and Psalms. 

Journal of American Oriental Society, third volume. No. 1. 

New Testament in Chinese, printed by London Missionary So- 
ciety, 1852. 

New Testament in Ancient and Modern Greek, printed in Sax- 
ony, 1710. 

Examination of the New Version of the New Testament, Lon- 
don, 1731. 

Copies of a Pamphlet by the Royal Society of Northern Anti- 
quarians. 

Enghsh Bible of 1680. 

Thompson's Residence and Travels in Africa. 



BIBLICAL LIBRARY. 381 

Howe's Bible, with Notes. 
In 1855 : 

Two copies of Genesis, new Chinese version. 

Isaiah Thomas's Folio Bible, in 2 vols., printed at Worcester, 
Mass., 1791. 

Commentary on the Psalms, in 3 vols. 8vo, by John Calvin, 
printed in London, 1840, by George Li verm ore, Esq. 

Ancient Bible and Commentary of Nicholas de Lyra, in 6 vols, 
folio, printed in 1501. 

Compilation of Questions and Answers on Matthew, in Chi- 
nese, from Mr. Andrew P. Hopper, Canton. 

Octavo English Bible, with Eeferences. 

Two copies of the Psalms, 8vo. 

Two Pocket English Bibles. 

Various small Books and Pamphlets connected with Bible Cir- 
culation and the Jubilee Year. 

Journal of the American Oriental Society. > 

Treatise on Chronology, by Richard Sault, 1759, presented by 
John Sandaver. 

Matthew, Luke, and John, in the Ningpo Colloquial of China, 
presented by Rev. H. T. Rankin, Missionary to China. 

Memorial of the Bible Societies in Scotland, 1829, presented 
by Rev. Dr. Robinson. 

History of the Indian Tribes, by H. R. Schoolcraft, presented 
by George W. Moneypenny, Esq., Commissioner of Indian 
Affairs. 

Cyclopedia of Missions, by Harvey Newcomb, 8vo, Scribner, 
1854. 

New Testament in Chinese, published by the London Mission- 
ary Society at Hong Kong, 1854. 

New Testament in Chinese, 2 vols., published by the London 
Missionary Society at Canton, 1854. 

Sacra Biblia, Basle, Switzerland, 1706. 

The following Books were presented for the Library hy Mr. Tauchnitz^ 

Leipsic. 
Vet us Testamentum Graecum, Septuaginta Interpretum, edidit 

Leander Van Ess, Jr., 8vo. 
Biblia Hebraica, secundum Hahnii editionem, praifatus est Ro- 

senmiiller, 12mo. 
Biblia Hebraica, cum Vulgata interpretatione Latina, 12mo, 2 
vols. 



382 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Novum Testamentum Grcecum, post Tittmannum, ed. Hahnii, 

8vo. 
Novum Testamentum Grsecum, ex recensione Hahnii, demus 

editum, 16mo. 
Novum Testamentum Latinum, Vulgatse editionis, ed. Fleck, 

12mo. 
Psalmorum liber Hebraice, 12mo. 

" " " et Latinum. 

" " " et Graece Septuagint. 

The Book of Psalms, Hebrew and English. 
" " " and German. 

« " " and Danish. 

« " " and Swedish. 



LIFE DIRECTORS AND LIFE MEMBERS. 333 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

LIFE DIRECTORS AND LIFE MEMBERS. 

The payment of one hundred and fifty dollars at one 
time constitutes a life director, and the payment of 
thirty dollars a life member. 

The number of life directors is seven hundred, and 
the number of life members nine thousand two hundred 
and fifty-seven. 

A director for life is privileged to attend and vote 
at all the meetings of the Board of Managers, and i^ 
entitled to receive annually, by making application 
at the Bible House any time during the year, five 
copies of the common Minion Bible. 

The following extract from the twenty-sixth Report 
will show the motive which prompted the board to 
adopt the measure. 

"The above regulation was adopted from a convic- 
tion that there are a multitude of individuals in the 
community — orphans, apprentices, servants, boatmen, 
stage-drivers, and others — who have no Bibles, and but 
few religious privileges, and who might, to some ex- 
tent, be supplied by the method now proposed, for who 
will be so likely to scatter the sacred Volume among 
the needy as those who have shown such regard for 
that volume as to make themselves members and di- 
rectors of the institution which furnishes it for distri- 
bution." 

Many churches in different parts of the country have 
constituted their respective pastors directors and mem- 
bers for life. What tribute of respect and affection 
more appropriate for the flock to bestow, or more grate- 



3g4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

ful to the pastor, who feeds it with the bread of life, 
than to receive such a tribute ! 

Of the thousands who sustain this interesting rela- 
tion, the society expects much, and with confidence 
it looks to them for the support and advocacy of the 
great cause in which they are aKke engaged, that the 
^' light and truth" may be sent out to bless and save 
every land. 



LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS. 



385 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



T4BLE OF LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS. 



Versions. 



What printed. 



Where circulated, 
or for whom designed. 



BRITISH ISLES. 

English ; author'd version 

Welsh 

Gaelic 

Irish ; in native charac- 
ters 

Irish, in Roman do. 

Manks 

FRANCE. 

French ; the three ver- 
sions of Martin, Oster- 
vald, and De Sacy .... 

Breton, or Armorican ; 
Old Test, translated, but 
not printed 



French Basque. 



SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. 

Spanish ; the two ver- 
sions of Scio and En- 



zinas 

Catalan ; Pentateuch and 
Psalms not yet print- 
ed 

Spanish Basque, or Es- 
cuara 

Judseo-Spanish 

Portuguese ; the two ver- 
sions of Pereira and Al- 
meida 



WESTERN EUROPE. 

The entire Bible .... 

(( (( 

« <( 

(( (( 

<( (( 

The entire Bible .... 
New Testament .... 



The entire Bible . . . 

New Testament . . . 

Gospel of St. Luke 
New Testament . . . 



The entire Bible. 



British Empire, &c. 

Wales. 

Highlands of Scotland. 

Various parts of Ireland, 
particularly the prov- 
inces of Munster and 
Connaught. 

Isle of Man. 

France, Switzerland, and 
French colonies. 

Province of Brittany. 

Departments of the Pyren- 
ees, and province of 
Navarre. 



Spain generally, and Span- 
ish colonies. 

Provinces of Catalonia and 
Valencia. 

Provinces of Biscay, Gui- 

puscoa, and Alava. 
Span. Jews in Turkey, &c. 

Portugal, and Portuguese 
colonies. 



Icelandic 

Swedish 

Lapponese 

Finnish 

Danish 

Faroese, or Ancient Ice- 
landic (Danish Soc.) . . 



NORTHERN EUROPE. 

The entire Bible 



St. Matthew 



Bb 



Iceland. 

Sweden. 

Russian and Swedish Lap- 
land. 

Finland. 

Denmark and Norway. 

Faro Islands, between 
Shetland and Iceland. 



386 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



Versions. 



What printed. 



"Where circulated, 
or for wliom 



Dutch 

Flemish 

German ; Luther's ver- 
sion 

German ; three versions 
— Gosner, Van Ess, and 
Kistemaker 

German and Hebrew (in 
columns) 

Do , in Hebrew charac- 
ters 

Lithuanian 

Samogitian 

Polish 

Judaeo- Polish 

Wendish, Upper 

" Lower 

Bohemian 

Hungarian 



CENTRAL EUROPE. 
The entire Bible 



New Testament 

") Pentateuch, Proph-^ 
[ ets, and Psalms . . •' 

New Testament .... 

The entire Bible 

New Testament .... 

(( (( 

U C( 

U <( 

The entire Bible .... 



Holland and Dutch colo- 
Belgium. [nies. 

Protest'nt Germany, Prus- 
sia, &c. 

For Roman Catholics in 
Germany. 



For German Jews. 

Province of Lithuania. 

In three districts of Wilna. 

Poland, Posen, Silesia, &c. 

For Polish Jews. 

Saxon Lusatia 

Prussian Lusatia 

For Tschehs of Bohemia, 
and Slovaks of Hun- 
gary. 

Madgiares of Hungary 
and Transylvania. 



ITALY AND SWITZERLAND. 

Italian ; two versions — 
Diodati and Martini . . . 

Latin 

Romanese 

Romanese, Lower, orEng- 
hadine 

Piedmontese 

Do. (with Italian) 

Do. (with French) 

Vaudois (with French) . . 

GREECE AND TURKEY. 

Greek, ancient 

Greek, modern 

Albanian (with modern 

Greek) 

Turkish 

Turkish, in Greek char- 
acters 

Do., in Armenian charac- 
ters 

Moldavian, or Wallachian 

Servian, or Serbian 

Bulgarian 



SOUTHERN EUROPE. 
i The entire Bible 

\ " " '■■■■{ 

New Testament. . 

Psalms 

Gospels 

St. Luke and St. John. 

New Testament 

The entire Bible 

New Testament .... ( 
The Old Testament . ( 

>• New Testament . . 

The entire Bible 

(■' ■■ ■{ 

New Testament .... 



The entire Bible. 
New Testament . 



Italy. 

Chiefly for ecclesiastics. 
Grisons of Switzerland. 
On the borders of the 
Tyrol. 

Piedmont. 

For the Vaudois, or Wal- 
[denses. 

For students. 

For the Greek Churches. 

For the Greek people in 
general. 

Province of Albania, on 
the Adriatic. 

Turkey in general. 

For Greek Christians 
using the Turkish lan- 
guage with Greek char- 
acters. 

For Armenian Christians 
using the Turkish lan- 
guage with Armenian 
characters. 

Moldavia, Wallachia, and 
part of Transylvania. 

In Servia and some bor- 
dering Austrian states. 

Turkish provinces cast 
and south of Hungary. 



LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS. 



387 



Versions 



What printed. 



Where circulated, 
or for whom designed. 



Slavonic, ancient and ec- 
clesiastical language . . 

Russ, Modern 

Slavonic and Modern Russ 

(in columns) 

Dorpat Esthonian 

Reval Esthonian 



Lettish, or Livonian . 

Karelian 

Zirian, or Sirenian. . 



Mordvinian, or Morduin . . 



Tseheremissian . 



Tschuwaschian 



Orenburg Tartar 

Karass, or Turkish Tartar ; 
(several other books of 
the Old. Test, translated) 

Crimean Tartar 



RUSSIA. 



The entire Bible 

New Test., Psalms, 
and Octateuch . . . 



New Testament 

New Test, and Psalms 



The entire Bible j 



St. Matthew 



New Testament . . 



New Testament 



The Gospels 



New Testament 



[ New Testament and j 
I Psalms I 



For the purposes 
Russian Church. 

Russia generally. 



of the 



Southern part ofEsthonia. 

Northern do., on Gulf of 
Finland. 

Provinces of Livonia and 
Courland. 

For a Finnish tribe in the 
government of Tver. 

For do. in the government 
of Vologda. 

For do. on the banks of the 
Oka and Volga, in the 
governments of Nische- 
Novogorod and Kasan. 

For do. on the banks of^ 
the Volga and Kama, in 
the governments of Ka- 
san and Simbersk. 

For do. of the mountains 
in Kasan, Nische-Novo- 
gorod, and Orenburg. 

For Tartars in the vicinity 
of Orenburg. 

For Tartars in the govern- 
ment of Astrachan. 

For the Karaite Jews of the 
Crimea, by way of trial. 



CAUCASIAN AND BORDER COUNTRIES. 



Ossitinian (in the Russian 
depot) 

Georgian (RedvuU, or ec- 
clesiastical characters) . 

Georgian (civil or common 
characters) 

Armenian, Ancient 

Armenian, Modern (with 
Ancient in columns) 

Ararat Armenian 



} Gospels, but 1 
f circulated . . . 

Y New Testament 



The entire Bible 
New Testament 



Central regions of the Cau- 
casus. 

Georgia, south of the Cau- 
casus. 



Armenia Proper ; but also 
prepared for the Arme- 
nians of Constantinople, 
Calcutta, <S:c. 

Around Mt. Ararat, south 
of Georgia. 



Hebrew 
Arabic . 



Syriac 



SEJHTIC LANGUAGES. 
Old and New Test. 
The entire Bible . . 



For the Jews and for stu- 
dents. 

For Mohammedans every 
where. 

For the Syrian Church in 
Travancore and parts of 
Syria. 



388 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



Versions. 



What printed. 



Where circulated, 
or for whom designed. 



SEMITIC LANGUAGES- 

Carshun (Arabic in Syriac I } 



-CONTINUED. 



characters) 
Syriac and Carshun, in par- 
allel columns 



Syro-Chaldaic (Syriac in 
Nestorian characters) , . 



New Testament 



Gospels 



Mesopotamia, Aleppo, and 
other parts of Syria. 



Mosul, Djesira, Tolamisk, 
and country west of 
Kurdistan. 



Persic (H. Martyn) 

Do. (Archdea'n Robinson) 

Do. (Dr. Glen) 

Do. (Mirza Ibrahim) 

Do. (xMirza Jaffier) 

Pushtoo, or Affghan .... 

Belochee, or Bulochee . . . 



Sanscrit, or Sungskrit . . . 

Hindustani, or Urdu: (H. 

Martyn) 

Do., by Mr. Thompson. . . 
Do., Serampore version. . 



PERSIA. 

New Testament . . . . j 
Entire Old Testament 1 

Isaiah 

Genesis 

N. Test, and Hist, books 

Three Gospels -j 

INDIA. 
The entire Bible \ 

New Testament . . 

Bible to 2 Kings . 
The entire Bible . . 



For the Mohammedans, 
Parsees, and Persians 
of India 

Persia Proper. 

Affghanistan. 

Belochistan, south of Aff- 
ghanistan, on the Ara- 
bian Sea. 



The sacred and learned 
language of the Brah- 
mins throughout India. 

For the Mohauimedans of 
India and others, the 
language being general- 
ly understood in all the 
larger towns. 



NORTHERN AND CENTRAL INDIA. 



Bengalee 

Do., two versions (EUerton 

and Yeates) 

Do. (in Roman characters) 
Do. (with English) 



Maghudha 



Orissa, or Oreia, or Utcula 

Ilinduwee, or Hindooce . 

Do. (called Hindee by Ser. 
Trans.), both in the Na- 
gree and Kythcc char- 
acters 



DIALECTS OF THE HINDU- 
WEE. 

Bughelcundee 



Bruj, or Bruj-bhasa . . 
Canoj, or Canyacubja 
Kousulu, or Koshala 



The entire Bible . 
Nev/ Testament . 



New Testament 



The entire Bible. 



New Testament 



St. Matthew 



Province of Bengal. 

Province of South Bahar, 

now part of the province 

of Bengal. 
Province of Orissa, the 

greater part attached to 

Bengal. 

For Hindostan, ar the up- 
per provinces of the 
Bengal Presidency. 



A district between the 
province of Bundelcund 
and the sources of the 
Nerbudda River. 

Province of Agra. 

In the Doab of the Ganges 
and Jumna. 

Western part of Oude. 



LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS. 



389 



Versions. 



What printed. 



Where circulated, 
or for whom designed. 



NORTHERN 

DIALECTS FOR CENTRAL IN- 
DIA, OR RAJPOOT STATES. 

Harrotee .. .' 

Oojein, or Oujjuyunee . . . 

Oodeypoora 

Marwar 

Juyapoora 

Bikaneera 

Buttaneer, or Virat 

Sindhee 

Moultan, or Wuch, or Ooch 

Punjabee, or Sikh 

Dogura, or Jumboo (M'tain 
Punjabee) 

Cashmerian 

GORKHA DIALECTS. 

Nepalese, Khaspoora, or 
Parbutti 

Palpa 

Kumaon 

Gurwhal, or Schreenagur . 



MADRAS PRESIDENCY. 

Telinga, or Teloogoo .... 
Do. (Vizagapatam version) 



Kamata, or Canarese .... 
Do. (Bellary version). . . . 

Tamul, or Tamil 

Malayalim (0. T. prepar'g) 

BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 

Kunkuna 

Mahratta 

Do. (Bombay version) . . . 

Gujerattee 

Do. (Surat version) 

Cutchee, or Catchee 



AND CENTRAL INDIA CONTINUED. 



New Testament 

(( (( 

St. Matthew , . . 
New Testament 
St. Matthew . . . 
New Testament 



St. Matthew 

New Testament . . . . 

The entire Bible 

New Testament . . . . 

N. Test., Pentateuch, 
and Hist, books . . 

New Testament 



SOUTHERN INDIA. 

N. T. and Pentateuch | 

N. Test, and a large -| 

part of the O. Test. 



New Testament , 
The entire Bible , 



New Testament 



N. T. and Pentateuch 

The entire Bible 

New Testament 
The entire Bible 

New Test, preparing 
some of it printed 



I 



A prov. W. of Bundelcund. 

Province of Malwah. 

Province of Mewar, or 
Oodeypoor. 

Do. of Joudpoor, or Mar- 
war, north of Mewar. 

Do. of Joypoor, east of Mar- 
war and west of Agra. 

Do. of Bikaneer, north of 
Marwar. 

Do. of Buttaneer, west of 
Delhi. 

Province of Sindh, east of 

the Indus. 
North of Sindh, between 

the Indus, Chenaub, and 

Gharra Rivers. 
Province of Lahore. 
Mountainous, or northern 

districts of Lahore. 

Cashmere, N. of Lahore. 

Kingdom of Nepaul, about 

Katmanhda. 
Small states north of Oude, 

below the Himalayas. 
Province of Kumaon, west 

of Palpa. 
Province of Gurwhal, west 

of Cumaon. 



Northern Circars, Cudda- 
pah, Nellore, and great- 
er part of Hydradad, or 
Telingana. 

Throughout the Mysore : 
also in the province of 
Canara, and as far north 
as the Kistna River. 

The Carnatic, and northern 
part of Ceylon. 

Travancore and Malabar. 

The Concan, chiefly the 
southern part, among the 
common people. 

The Concan, and thro'out 
the Mahratta territory. 

Surat, and province of Gu- 
jerat. 

Province of Cutch, be- 
tween the Gulf of Cutch 
and the Indus. 



390 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



What printed. 



Where circulated, 
or for whom designed. 



CEYLON. 



Pali (in Burmese charac- 
ters) 



Cingale 



Indo-Portuguese (the Old 
Testament preparing) . 



> New Testament < 



The entire Bible 



) Pentateuch, Psalms, 
) and N. Testament . ' 



Sacred and learned lan- 
guage of Ceylon and 
Indo-Chinese countries. 

South part of the island, 
from Battycola on the 
east to the River Chilaw 
on the west, and in the 
interior. 

For Portuguese settlers 
and their descendants in 
Ceylon and various parts 
of the Indian Seas. 



INDO-CHINESE COUNTEIES. 



Assamese 

Munipoora 

Khasee (New Testament 

translated) 

Burmese (by Dr. Judson, 

for Am. Bible Society) . 
Siamese, or Thay (New 

Testament translated). . 



The entire Bible 
New Testament 

The entire Bible 



Assam, subject to Bengal 
Presidency. [sam. 

Munipoor, on south of As- 

Khassu country, east of 
Garrow Hills. 

Burmese Empire and Ar- 
racan. 

Cossya Hills, on the bor- 
ders of Siara, 



Chinese (Morrison's ver- 
sion) 

Do. (Marshman's do.) . . 

Mantchou 

Buriat, or Eastern Mon- 
golian 

Calmuc, or Western Mon- 
golian 



CHINESE EMPIRE. 

The entire Bible .... 
New Testament 

The entire Bible 

New Testament 



China Proper, and numer- 
ous Chinese in Indian 
Archipelago. 

Mantchuria : it is also the 
court language ofPekin. 

For the Burials about Lake 
Baikal in Siberia, and for 
the Kalka tribes of Mon- 
golia. 

For Calmucs of the Don 
and Volga, in Russia ; 
and Eleuths, Calmucs, 
and Soungars of Mon- 
golia. 



Malay, in Roman charac- 
ters 



Do., in Arabic characters . 



Malay, Low 

Javanese (Old Testament 
preparing by the Neth- 
erlands Society) 



HITHER POLYNESIA. 



The entire Bible. 



i( (( 



New Testament . . 



For the Moluccas, and east- 
ern part of the Archi- 
pelago. 

Malay Peninsula ; sea- 
ports and coasts of Su- 
matra, Java, and other 
islands. 

Batavia and its neighbor- 
hood. 

Island of Java. 



LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS. 



391 



Where circulated, 
r for whom designed. 



Versions. 



What printed. 



Hawaiian (by American 
Bible Society) 

Tahitian 

Rarotonga 

Marquesan 

Tonga 

New Zealand 

Malagasse 

Samoan 

Feejeean 



FAETHER POLYNESIA. 



The entire Bible . 



( N. Test, and portions 
\ ofthe Old Test. .. 
C Some portions given ; 
I versions preparing 

Ditto 

New Testament .... 

The entire Bible 

St. Mark, St. Luke, St. 
John, and the Epis- 
tle to the Romans . 
St. Matthew and St. 
Mark 



Sandwich Islands. 

Georgian and other isl- 
ands in the South Seas. 

Hervey Islands, do. 

Marquesan Islands, do. 

Tonga Islands, do. 
New Zealand. 
Madagascar. 

Navigator's Islands. 
Feejee Islands. 



Coptic (with the Arabic) . 

Ethiopic (ecclesiastical) . . 

Amharic (vernacular) .... 

Berber (four Gospels and 
Genesis translated) . . . 

Bullom (with English) . . 

Mandingo (four Gospels 

translated) 

Accra 

Namacqua 

Sechuana 

Caffre 



AFRICA. 

Gospels and Psalms . . 
New Testament and ^ 

Psalms ( 

The entire Bible 

Part of St. Luke .... 
St. Matthew 

Do. and St. John . . . 

Small portions, and 
others preparing. . 

New Testament and 
Psalms 

New Test, and por- 
tions ofthe Bible. . 



For the Copts of Egypt. » 

For the Church in Abys- 
sinia. 

Abyssinia. 

The Oases of the African 
Deserts, from Mount At- 
las to Egypt. 

About Sierra Leone, on 
the western coast. 

Mandingo country, south 
of Gambia River. 

Gold Coast, West. Africa. 

North of Orange River, 
South Africa. 

Bechuana, east of Namac- 
qua. 

Caffraria, eastern coast of 
South Africa. 



NORTH. 

Greenlandish . . 



Esquimaux 

Mohawk (Pentateuch and 
Psalms translated) .... 
Chippewa, or Ojibwa .... 
Do. (American Society). . 
Delaware (Amer. Society) 

Creolese (Danish Society) 

SOUTH. 

Negro Dialect of Surinam 

Aimara (with Spanish) . . 
Mexican 



A^IERICA. 

New Test, and large 
portion ofthe Bible 

Testament, Genesis, 
Psalms, and Isaiah 

Isaiah, St. Luke, and 
St. John 

St. John 

New Testament .... 

Epistles of St. John . 

New Testament .... 

New Testament and 

Psalms 

St. Luke 

St. Luke 



Greenland, for the Mora- 
vian Missions. 

Labrador. 

Indian Nations west ofthe 
Falls of Niagara. 

For the Chippewa or Del- 
aware Indians. 

Danish West Indian Isl- 
ands. 

Surinam, Dutch Guiana. 

Bolivia. 
Mexico. 



392 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Of the preceding 138 languages or dialects, the distribution, •print- 
ing, or translations of the Scriptures, in whole or in part, has been 
promoted by the Society 

Directly in 70 languages or dialects") rp . i -.oo 
Indirectly in 68 " " j- o a , o. . 

The number of versions (omitting those which are printed in dif- 
ferent characters only) is 160. Of these, 108 are translations never 
before printed. 

Note. — The American Bible Society has aided in publishing, or 
has purchased and circulated, copies of many of the versions cited 
above. It has also been at the sole expense of publishing the Ar- 
meno-Turkish Bible and the Modern Syriac, the Hebrew-Spanish 
Old Testament, and the modern Armenian Bible. It has also pub- 
lished the entire Hawaiian Bible at the Sandwich Islands, the mod- 
ern Greek New Testament, the Ojibiva New Testament, and the 
Choctaw Testament, in New York ; two of the Gospels in the Sioux 
Dingon tongue ; the books of Genesis and Isaiah in Mohawk ; one 
of the Gospels in Seneca, two in Cherokee, one in the Grebo, and 
the book of Acts in the Arrowack. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

DATE OF THE ORGANIZATION OF BIBLE SOCIETIES, AND 
ISSUES OF BIBLES AND TESTAMENTS. 

Oopic3 of 
Scriptures issued. 

British and Foreign Bible Society, instituted in 1804. . 21,973,355 

American Bible Society, instituted in 1816 7,478,216 

Protestant Bible Society at Paris, instituted 1818, with 

132 auxiliaries 249,626 

French and Foreign Bible Society of Paris, instituted 

1833, with auxiliaries 174,251 

Strasburg Bible Society, instituted 1815 (chiefly Ger- 
man Bibles and Testaments) 66,087 

Issued from the British and Foreign Bible Society's De- 
pot in Paris, from April, 1820, 2,089,211 copies. 

Icelandic Bible Society, instituted 1815 10,445 

Swedish Bible Society, instituted 1808, with auxiliaries 564,378 
The agency at Stockholm, formed 1832, has issued 
231,900 copies. 



BIBLE SOCIETIES, ISSUES, ETC. 393 

Copies of 
Scriptures issued. 

Norwegian Bible Society, instituted 1816........... 30,995 

The agency at Christiana, formed 1832, has issued 

20,240 copies. 

Stavanger Bible Society, instituted 1828 6,693 

Finnish Bible Society, instituted 1812, at Abo, with 

many branches 110,561 

Danish Bible Society, instituted 1814, with auxiliaries 172,554 

Netherlands Bible Society, with auxiliaries 378,667 

The agency at Amsterdam, appointed 1843, has issued 

47,659 copies. 

Belgian and Foreign Bible Society, at Brussels, inst. 1834 7,623 

Belgian Bible Associations, instituted 1839 3,903 

The agency at Brussels, appointed 1835, has issued 

119,585 copies. 

Antwerp Bible Society, instituted 1834 439 

Ghent Bible Society, instituted 1834 8,98Q 

Sleswick-Holstein Bible Society, instituted 1815, with 

auxiliaries 125,826 

Eutin Bible Society, instituted 1817, for the principal- 
ity of Lubeck 5,296 

Lubeck Bible Society, instituted 1814 11,472 

Hamburg Bible Society, instituted 1814, with branches 83,752 

Bremen Bible Society, instituted 1815, with an auxiliary 20,163 

Lauenburg-Eatzeburg Bible Society, instituted 1816. . 10,675 

Eostock Bible Society, instituted 1816 19,154 

Hanover Bible Society, instituted 1814, with auxiliaries 99,229 

Lippe-Detmold Bible Society, instituted 1816 3,569 

Waldeck and Pyrmont Bible Society, instituted 1817 . . 2,800 

Hesse-Cassel Bible Society, instituted 1818 30,000 

Hanau Bible Society, instituted 1818 . . .' 3,316 

Marburg Bible Society, instituted 1825 7,065 

Frankfort Bible Society, instituted 1816 73,565 

The agency at Frankfort, appointed 1830, has issued 

701,027 copies. 
Hesse-Darmstadt Bible Society, instituted 1817, with 

auxiliaries 31,484 

Duchy of Baden Bible Society, instituted 1820, with do. 18,585 

Wurtemburg Bible Society, instituted 1812, with do. . . 464,576 
Bavarian Protestant Bible Institution at Nuremburg, 

instituted 1821, with auxiliaries 108,990 

Saxon Bible Society, instituted 1814, with auxiharies. 173,302 



394 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Copies of 
Scriptures issued. 

Anhalt-Bernburg Bible Society, instituted 1821 , 4,786 

Anhalt-Dessau Bible Society 3,310 

Weimar Bible Society, instituted 1821 3,773 

Eisenach Bible Society, instituted 1818 4,938 

Brunswick Bible Society, instituted 1815 700 

Prussian Bible Society at Berlin, instituted 1805, with 

auxiliaries _ 1,498,202 

Issued to the Prussian troops since 1830 235,916 

Basle Bible Society, instituted 1804 336,184 

Schaffhausen Bible Society, instituted 1813 8,382 

Zurich Bible Society, instituted 1812, with auxiliary at 

Winterthur 14,656 

St. Gall Bible Society, instituted 1813 , 34,429 

Aargovian Bible Society, instituted 1815 13,802 

Berne Bible Society 40,841 

Neufchatel Bible Society, instituted 1816 6,430 

Lausanne Bible Society, instituted 1814 32,000 

Geneva Bible Society, instituted 1814 36,651 

Glarus Bible Society, instituted 1819 5,000 

Coire or Chur Bible Society, instituted 1813 12,267 

Waldenses Bible Society at Tour, instituted 1816 4,238 

Ionian Bible Society, instituted at Corfu in 1819, with 

3 auxiliaries 7,377 

Russian Bible Society, Petersburg, previous to its suspen- 
sion by an imperial ukase in 1826, had 289 auxiliaries, 
and had printed the Scriptures in various languages, 

the circulation of which is still allowed 861,105 

Russian Protestant Bible Society at St. Petersburg, in- 
stituted in 1826, with numerous auxiliaries 132,464 

Calcutta Bible Society, instituted 1811, with various 

branches 491,567 

Serampore Missionaries 200,000 

Madras Bible Society, instituted 1820 462,505 

Bombay Bible Society, instituted 1813 139,928 

Colombo Bible Society, instituted 1812, with various 

branches in Ceylon 36,114 

Jaffna Bible Society 62,625 

The total of the above issue, it will be found, is over thirty-three 

millions of Bibles and Testaments, all distributed since the Bible 
Society era in 1804. 



APPENDIX. 



CORRESPONDENCE, ADDRESSES, &c. 

Letters from the Hon. Elias Boudinot, President of the American 
Bible Society. 
" Brethren and Fellow-laborers in the Gospel, 

" Among the innumerable blessings of this hfe wherewith it hath 
pleased a gracious God to favor me, the permitting my union with you 
in those labors of love, which it is to be hoped will be made instrument- 
al to the raising a monument to his glory, which may last till the 
recording angel shall announce to an astonished universe that ' it is 
finished,' is one of the most dear to my heart. v 

" The consoling hope was once cherished that the unspeakable 
pleasure would, in one instance at least, have loeen afforded me, in the 
last decline of life, of meeting with you personally, to have testified my 
approbation of all your exertions in this glorious work. But a kind 
and merciful God, who knows all my deficiencies, has thought it best, 
in his infinite wisdom, to refuse this favor, in which dispensation of his 
all-wise Providence I do most sincerely acquiesce, firmly believing it 
will be most conducive to his own glory and the best interests of the 
institution committed to our care. 

" I once thought I had much to communicate to you, but the extreme 
debility of both mind and body prevents my attempting it. Suffer me, 
however, as a last effort, however weak and feeble, to say a few words 
before I go hence. 

" It is not vanity in me to say that I have labored hard and suffered 
much in this great cause, occasioned in some measure by a very low 
state of health ; yet such has been the apparent interposition of an 
overruling Providence, that my faith and hope have never failed, even 
in the darkest days ; and although there have been great temptations 
to despair of final success, yet have I been so strengthened with the 
assurance that it was a work of God, and that he would show his 
power and glory in bringing it to maturity in his own time and by his 
own means, that I had determined, in case of failure in the last attempt, 
to commence the great business at all events, with the aid of a few 
laymen who had testified their willingness to go all lengths with me. 
But no sooner had the work been brought to an issue, than the clouds 



396 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



began to disperse, and every one was obliged to say in his heart, ' This 
is the ivork of God.' 

"Thus, my beloved friends, hath God in his condescending grace 
appointed ns to become his humble instruments in opening the eyes of 
the blind ; in cheering the abodes of primeval darkness with the joyful 
sounds of redeeming love ; in fulfilling the encouraging prophecy of the 
angel flying through the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gos- 
pel in his hands, to preach to all nations, languages, tongues, and 
people on the earth. 

" This, indeed, is an event devoutly to be wished, and most grate- 
fully to be acknowledged. That such comparative worms of the dust 
should become fellow-workers with Christ in making the wilderness to 
blossom as a rose, and the nations of the earth to become the nations 
of our Lord and his Christ, is an honor in which the highest angels 
would rejoice. Is there, then, the least reason for fearing the great re- 
sult ? Shall any one be discouraged at the arduous prospect before us ? 
By no means. Look at the disciples of our dearest Lord, and compare 
their relative situation when they beheld their blessed Master given up 
to the power of his enemies — condemned as a base malefactor — stretched 
on the cross, breathing out his precious life in a prayer in favor of his 
unrelenting persecutors — forsaken by all — every one fleeing to his own 
home, and one even repeatedly denying his Lord and Master, though 
forewarned of it but a few hours before ! 

" Healize their forlorn state when surrounding the risen Savior, 
hearkening to his invaluable instructions : he is suddenly parted from 
them, and carried up into heaven, and vanishes from their sight. It is 
true, they are commissioned to go forth and preach the Gospel to every 
creature — a Gospel in all its parts and each essential feature destruct- 
ive of every religion on the face of the earth. This is to be preached 
to a world wholly absorbed in the works of the flesh ; wholly inimical 
to the precepts of the meek and holy Jesus — a world in absolute pos- 
session of all temporal power and authority. All this is to be done by 
twelve poor, helpless, indigent, and illiterate fishermen, without power 
civil or ecclesiastical, friends, influence, riches, or rank to aid them in 
calling the public attention to their divine Master, who, though de- 
clared to be God as well as man, was crucified as a malefactor, being 
condemned by the known judicatories of their country. But will it be 
said that fhey had the personal assurance of their Almighty Savior for 
their encouragement and support against all the powers of earth and 
hell ? Yes, my friends, they had ; and a blessed support it was, and 
under it they withstood and overcame the world. And have you not 
equal, if not superior cause of trust and hope ? Have you not all the 
promises made to them, with the advantage of their experience and 



APPENDIX. 397 

success in the fulfillment of all that he said and did, beyond their most 
exaggerated expectations ? Has your Savior lost his power and author- 
ity, or has he not given as much confidence and reliance on his con- 
tinual presence and almighty arm to you as he ever did to his disciples 
of old ? Is he not the same yesterday, to-day, and forever ? 

" As for my own part, I have been looking for greater opposition 
and causes of mortification than any that have yet appeared. I know 
the seductive power of the evil one, and the artful cunning of his de- 
vices. An opposition, indeed, has come from quarters whence we ought 
not to have expected it ; indeed, it has been, as yet, too feeble to excite 
the fear or cool the zeal of God's people. But, brethren, we are all 
too well acquainted with the cunning and subtilty of the great enemy 
of the Gospel to suppose that he will thus early give up his designs. 
No ; but as you have put on the armor of God, you must not put it 
off till you have obtained a complete, a decided victory. You must be 
guarded at all points. Woe be to them who shall be the cause of your 
trouble. Satan's principal endeavors will be to sow divisions among 
you : he will attack your union, by which you destroy his strong hold, 
in breaking down the walls of partition that have so long separated 
and wounded the Church of Christ. He will fear your apparent cor- 
dial love and esteem for each other. As long as real brotherly love 
shall continue and prevail among you, all the arts of the enemy of 
man's happiness may be defied. Guard well the weakest part of your 
citadel ; forget not the solemn injunction of the captain of your salva- 
tion, ' By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love 
one another' Stand on your guard ; let no argument persuade you ; 
let no vain alarm of danger to your interests intimidate, you. Greater 
is he who is for you than he who is against you. I do know, and have 
carefully attended to your probable progress. You have an arduous, 
but a glorious work and labor of love before you : this will necessarily 
engage all your powers and all your spare time ; but look to the great 
recompense of reward. That you are striving for eternity, not only for 
yourselves, but for a world lying in sin, who may, at the great day of 
account, be found surrounding the throne of the Eternal with halle- 
lujahs and thanksgiving, that you were the cause of their coming to the 
knowledge of the Gospel. Forget not that your Lord and Master has 
all power given to him, both in heaven and on earth ; that under his 
guardian care — that under the banner of his cross, you are to go forth 
and complete the triumphs of redeeming love. 

" Once more suffer me to beseech you to promote love and harmony 
in your society as your strong bond of union. , God is love. Love is 
the fulfillment of the law. Let it become a common proverb, 'See 
how these members of the American Bible Society love one another^ 



398 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

though consisting of every denomination of Christians among us.' Let 
a motto be written in letters of gold on the most prominent part of 
your hall of deliberation, ' By this sliall all ')nen knoiv ye are my dis- 
ciples, if ye love one another.' If this, then, is the great characteristic 
mark of discipleship with Christ, who will refuse to wear the badge 
as the most desirable trait in his character ? The second advent of 
the Savior is comparatively near — the harbingers of his approach begin 
to appear. Hear the language of Jesus himself : ' For the Son of Man 
shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels ; and then shall 
he reward every man according to his works. Hereafter ye shall see 
the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the 
clouds of heaven with power and great glory.' St. Paul commendeth 
the Thessalonians for their faith Godward, and waiting for his Son 
from heaven. ' For this we say unto you, by the words of the Lord, 
If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so (as certainly) 
they also who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him, for this we say 
unto you, by the word of the Lord, that the Lord himself shall de- 
scend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and 
the dead in Christ shall rise first.' I rejoice with you, that to accom- 
plish this glorious end, to hasten this blessed event, and to become 
fellow-workers with God, we are assisting in laying the foundation for 
spreading the Gospel throughout the habitable globe, that the earth 
may be covered vi^ith the knowledge of God as the waters cover the 
seas, when we may all sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in 
the kingdom of our'Lord. 

" And now, brethren, beloved in the Lord, I commit you to the 
grace of that God who hath preserved my life to my seventy-eighth 
year as a living monument of his sparing mercy and goodness, to wit- 
ness your zeal, activity, and perseverance in his service. May the 
broad hand of the Almighty cover you ; may his Holy Spirit guide, 
direct, and influence you in all your deliberations and undertakings, 
and make you burning and shining lights in his Israel. And when 
the great Shepherd of the sheepfold shall call in his ancient people, the 
Jews, from the four quarters of the world, may you be found among 
the number of those who shall be made kings and priests to God. 

" And now, my beloved friends and brethren, suffer me to leave you, 
under the pleasing expectation that we shall meet again, to unite in 
that song of everlasting praise that shall proceed from the trump of the 
archangel, when he shall sound the glorious anthem of hallelujah I 
hallelujah I hallelujah ! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. 
'" Soli Dei Gloria et Honor.'' 

" Elias Boudinot, President. 

*• To the Board of Managers of the Amer. Bible Society. ) 
"Burlington, bth May, 1817." ) 



APPENDIX. 399 

Burlington, June 5, 1816. 
" Rev. and dear Sir, 

" I have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your favor of the 
1st instant, officially announcing my election to the chair of the Amer- 
ican Bihle Society. In expressing my grateful acceptance of this un- 
deserved comphment (after trusting to the gracious influence of Al- 
mighty God), my confidence is in the aid and assistance of my worthy 
colleagues, by which alone I can entertain a hope of being useful in so 
very respectable a body, engaged in this all-important undertaking. I 
am not ashamed to confess that I accept of the appointment of Presi- 
dent of the American Bible Society as the greatest honor that could 
have been conferred on me this side of the grave. 

" I am so convmccd that the whole of this business is the work of 
God himself, by his Holy Spirit, that, even hoping against hope, I am 
encouraged to press on through good report and evil report, to accom- 
phsh his Avill on earth as it is in heaven. 

" So apparent is the hand of God in thus disposing the hearts of so 
many men, so diversified in their sentiments as to religious matters of 
minor importance, and uniting them as a band of brothers in this 
grand object, that even infidels are compelled to say it is the work of 
the Lord, and it is wonderful in our eyes I In vain is the opposition of 
man : as well might he attempt to arrest ' the arm of Omnipotence, or 
fix a barrier around the throne of God.' Having this confidence, let 
us go on, and we shall prosper. I can say no more : my feeble frame 
and exhausted spirit scarcely suffer me, lying in my bed, to dictate lan- 
guage sufficiently efficient to represent my deep sense of the polite at- 
tention of your honorable body. All I can add is, that should it please 
a sovereign God to suffer me to meet my faithful fellow-laborers in the 
Gospel vineyard, I will most oprdially endeavor to make up, in un- 
wearied attention and industry, what may be deficient in the mind and 
understanding. 

" Accept of my acknowledgment of the polite manner in which you 
have made the communication. 

'' I am, reverend and dear sir, with esteem, 

" Your humble and obedient servant, 

"Elias Boudinot. 

"Rev. Dr. Romeyn, Sec. for Dom. Corres. of the Amer. Bib. Soc.''^ 

Letter from the Secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

"Brighton, August 3, 1816. 
" My dear Sir, 
" The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society have 
instructed me to offer you their warmest congratulations on the event 



400 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



of the formation of the American Bible Society ; an event which they 
3onsider as truly auspicious, and pregnant with consequences most ad- 
vantageous to the promotion of that great work in which the American 
brethren and themselves are mutually engaged. 

"To these congratulations our committee have added a grant of 
£500 ; and they trust that both will be accepted as indications and 
pledges of that friendly disposition which it is their desire to cultivate 
and manifest toward every class and description of their transatlantic 
fellow-laborers. 

" The crisis at which the American Bible Society has been formed, 
and the cordial unanimity which has reigned throughout all the pro- 
ceedings which led to its establishment, encourage the most sanguine 
hopes of its proving, in the hand of God, a powerful auxiliary in the 
confederate warfare which is now carrying on against ignorance and 
sin. May those hopes be realized, and may new trophies be added, 
through its instrumentality, to those triumphs which have already been 
reaped by the arms of our common Redeemer. 
"I am, my dear sir, very faithfully yours, 

" John Owen, 
" Secretary to the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

"Dr. BouDiNOT, President of the American Bible Society.^'' 

Zietter from Trince Galitzm, President of the Russian Bible Society. 
" Sir, 

" Your letter of the 23d May, a. c. (anno currente), containing in- 
formation of the establishment of the American Bible Society, was 
duly received by me, and brought to the knowledge of the Committee 
of the Russian Bible Society at their first meeting. 

" The information of such an event iis the forming a national Bible 
institution for the United States of America, for the purpose of pro- 
moting the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, not only at home, but 
also in other countries, whether Christian, Mohammedan, or pagan, 
was certainly of a nature to produce the most joyful feelings in the 
breasts of all who take a sincere part in this great and salutary cause. 
It is with peculiar pleasure that we saw thus a new step made toward 
hastening forward that happy period, when the knowledge of the Word 
of Life will become universal glory to Him who deigns to inspire his 
people every where with the use of means for the spiritual welfare of 
the human race. The sphere of operation which the American Bible 
Society has prescribed to its activity is very extensive and important. 
We have perused with satisfaction the constitution and the address to 
their countrymen, and we are happy to see that the same principles 
animate our American fellow-laborers which lead us to the same im- 



APPENDIX 4Q1 

portant end. Thus, notwithstanding the distance which separates us, 
being approximated by the same spirit of unity and action, we reach 
you the right hand of fellowship from these remote parts, and unani- 
mously engage to exert ourselves for the same cause of benevolence. 
Yes, sir, it wi]l certainly be very agreeable for us to communicate 
mutually with your society about our proceedings and successes ; and 
we shall always be ready to take a most hearty interest in all that be- 
longs to your work, which is the work of charity, even the work of God, 

" We have not failed to forward some of the copies of your proceed- 
ings and Constitution you have sent us to some of our branch societies, 
in order to make them acquainted with your benevolent institution, 
and, in return, we have felt ourselves obliged to communicate to you 
some small publications of what was done in this country for the same 
salutary cause of disseminating the Holy Scriptures. We will thus 
mutually learn what our merciful Savior has done and is doing in 
both countries. 

" Before I conclude, permit me, sir, to express to you the feelings of 
the most sincere and true esteem, with which I have the honor to be, sir,' 
your most obedient and devoted servant, 

(Signed) " Prince Alexander Galitzin, 

" President of the Russian Bible Society. 

"St. Petersburg, November 30, 1816." 

Letter from the Secretaries of the Hamburg and Altona Bible So- 
cieties. 

" W"e have learned with great satisfaction, from the publications 
which have reached us, that the loud voice of the friends of the Bible 
in America has demanded and produced a union of the interests of all 
the provincial societies, by the establishment of a national Bible Society. 

" We can not better express our joy at this event than by a request 
to be made acquainted, through the medium of your printed reports, 
with the results of your endeavors to diffuse the pure Word of God 
throughout the wide dominions of the states of North America. 

" However great the distance at which we live from each other, we 
ieel ourselves associated with you in the blessed vocation of offering 
those revered documents, upon which the faith of all Christians rests, 
to such of the children of men as do not possess them, and of thereby 
leading them to a nearer and fruitful knowledge of our Holy Redeemer, 
Jesus Christ, who ' of God is made, unto all that believe on him, wis- 
dom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.' To glorify 
the name of Christ be, therefore, the aim of our exertions ; exertions 
which can not fail to receive the approbation and blessing of God, even 
though but few evidences of it should be seen in this life. 

Cc 



402 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" We send you, along with this epistle, twelve copies of our report 
for this year, to be distributed among your provincial societies, and by 
this act commence an intercourse and connection with you which we 
desire to render as extensive as we can. You will undoubtedly be 
able to make it as instructive to us as it will be interesting, by the 
rich fund of experience which your activity will supply. How much 
will you discover favorable to the advancement of our design I and, on 
the other hand, how many difficulties will you encounter ! A wise 
application of the former, and a careful consideration of the latter, can 
not but yield valuable information to us, who have scarcely yet begun 
to mature our plan of operation. 

" With joyful aspirations, we look forward with you to that day when 
' the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters 
cover the sea ;' when ' there shall be one fold and one shepherd,' and 
when all differences among Christians shall end in the worship of God 
and his Anointed, in spirit and in truth. 

" May the head of his church, the Lord Jesus Christ, who knows 
all the true members of the same, of. whatever name or people they 
may be, exceeding abundantly increase their number by smiling upon 
the labors of Bible societies in all parts of the world ; thereby marking 
them out and lifting them up for a sign of the times, to which the na- 
tions shall look and praise him. 

" Do not misconstrue it as presumption that we address you in our 
own language. There are among you many who were formerly in- 
habitants of Germany, and still speak German ; and these will be our 
interpreters. We shall, on our part, thankfully receive your answer in 
the English language, with which we are acquainted, as soon as it 
shall be agreeable to you to honor us with the same. 

" Please to accept the assurance of our inmost veneration. 

" John Daniel Runge, 
"j. h. mutzenbecker, 
" Gilbert Van Der Smissen." 

Extract from an Address of Prince Galitzin. 
" Our pious emperor, though at a distance from Russia laboring for 
the good of nations, yet always present with all that is calculated to 
promote the welfare of his people and of mankind, has in these circum- 
stances given us a new token of his regard to the work of the Bible 
Society, for he has granted the same privileges to promote its corre- 
spondence that are enjoyed by the different departments of government 
themselves — not only the privilege of sending all letters free from 
postage, but also of sending Bibles by post, to any part of the 
empire, free from charge." — \2th Report, Appen., p. 18. 



APPENDIX. 4Q3 

Letter from one of the Secretaries of the Prot. Bible Society, Paris. 

" Sir, and \teiiy honored Brother in Jesus Christ, 

" It is with a real pleasure that I find myself charged by the com- 
mittee to inform the society of which you are the secretary of the 
formation in this place of a Bible Society, under the name of The 
Protestant Bible Society of Paris, and to testify its regret at not hav- 
ing done it sooner. "We send by this conveyance to your committee 
twelve copies of our first report and two of our regulations. You will 
have the goodness to present them to it as a feeble mark of our esteem, 
and of our desire to fraternize with it. You will see there, sir, that 
the Bible Society of Paris is founded on the same principles and with 
the same views with those which have preceded it in the same career. 

" To recall to those who forget it the good news of salvation, the 
news of God manifesting himself in the flesh, and dying upon a cross 
to save sinful man, and thus to shed abroad light where all was dark- 
ness, morality where all was corruption, life where was nothing but 
death, by putting into the hands of all the glorious Gospel of God the 
Savior — that divine word from the Lord himself, and to the efficacy 
of which alone are promised all the miracles of grace. Such is the 
object which is proposed by the Bible Society of Paris. And, thanks 
to the succors and to the blessings from on high, she has reason to ap- 
plaud her first step. 

" The American Bible Society will learn with pleasure, and with 
gratitude to Him who is the cause, and to whom alone belongs the 
glory, that this fine France, so richly endowed of God, awakens at last 
from her long lethargy with respect to religion, and participates with 
the rest of the known world the inestimable benefits of Bible societies, 
and that she will join her prayers to those of all true Christians, that 
the Lord would please to bless and to accomplish his work, and to call 
to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, by the reading of his Word, so many 
millions of immortal souls, which are all languishing far from him who 
is the way, the truth, and the life, and by whom alone they can be saved. 

" Accept, sir, and very honored brother, and render acceptable to 
your committee, the fraternal salutations of ours, and its wishes that 
the Lord would be pleased to crown your efforts always with new suc- 
cess, and enable you to obtain the sole recompense to which you attach 
any value, that of conducting captive souls to the obedience of our 
Lord Jesus Christ. 

" The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the 
communion of the Holy Ghost, be wdth you and with us. Amen. 
*' Your very humble servant and brother in Christ, 

" J. MoNOD the Son:' 



404 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Extract of a Letter from the Hon. Bushrod Washington. 

" I had the pleasure to receive your esteemed favor of the 8th ult., 
together with a Bible from American stereotype plates, for which 1 
return to the managers of the American Bible Society my grateful ac- 
knowledgments. 

"As to the execution of the work, it merits the highest commenda- 
tion. Although my sight is not good, I read it with great ease ; much 
more so, and with less fatigue to the eye, than print of the same size 
in most other books. As to its freedom from typographical errors, I 
can form no just opinion, having only had time to read a few chapters ; 
I have no doubt, however, of its accuracy. 

" You do me but justice, kind sir, in imputing to me the most favor- 
able opinion of the design and operation of the national Bible insti- 
tution." 

Letter from the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy. 

''Nov. 15, 1820. 

" I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 
17th October last, in behalf of the Standing Committee of the Ameri- 
can Bible Society, evincing their Christian and benevolent intentions 
of supplying the navy with copies of the Scriptures, for the use and 
benefit of the seamen employed in the public service. 

" I request you to present to the committee my thanks for their 
liberal views in this instance. 

" Upon a full consideration of the subject, and believing it to be the 
intention of the committee to extend the knowledge of the Gospel 
equally to all, I have thought proper to suggest that the first supply 
should be equal to the whole number of seamen and petty officers 
actually employed, which is about three thousand five hundred ; the 
number which may be required annually afterward, to supply losses or 
deficiencies, will probably not exceed three hundred. 

" If the above number should be considered too great in the first 
supply, it may be reduced at the discretion of the committee. 

" I should wish to have the Bibles deposited with the several com- 
mandants of navy yards, in the proportion hereafter mentioned, by 
whom they will be distributed to each ship when equipped for service. 
Proper regulations will be established, and the commanding officers 
required to report annually the number disposed of, and the number 
that may be Avanted, and the information shall be communicated to 
the committee in such manner as they shall request. 

" I have the honor to be, with very great respect, sir, your most 
obedient servant, Smith Thompson." 



APPENDIX. 4Q5 

Tribute of Affection frmn the Board of Managers of the American 
Bible Society to the Memory of their deceased President. 

" The Board of Managers of the American Bible Society, while, in 
common with their fellow-citizens, they sensibly feel the loss which the 
Christian community has sustained in the removal, by death, of the 
Hon. Ellis Boudinot, of one of its most valuable members, have 
reason more especially to lament that which their institution has suf- 
fered, in being deprived of its venerated president. 

" When the managers carry back their recollection to the period 
which preceded the formation of this society, and review the laborious 
and persevering efforts of Dr. Boudinot to accomplish the interesting 
object ; when they consider the noble example of beneficence which he 
soon afterward presented, in the generous donation of ten thousand 
dollars to its treasury, and of one thousand dollars since toward the 
erection of a depository ; the unremitting interest which, under the 
pressure of acute bodily suffering and the infirmities of advanced age, 
he continued ever afterward to evince in its concerns ; his great exer- 
tion, notwithstanding the personal inconvenience and pain to which it 
subjected him, to attend its stated anniversaries ; the dignity and 
amiableness with which he fulfilled the duties of the chair ; and the 
pious and affectionate counsels supplied by his official communications, 
they deeply deplore the chasm that has been made in their body by 
this afflicting bereavement, 

" To the will of an all- wise Providence it becomes them to feel un- 
feigned submission, and to accompany this act of duty with the expres- 
sion of their grateful acknowledgments to a merciful God for his 
goodness, in prolonging beyond the ordinary measure of human life that 
of their illustrious patron, in permitting him to witness the rapid 
growth and prosperity of the cherished object of his affections, in con- 
veying to his heart the consolations of that blessed book which he had 
made the standard of his faith and the rule of his conduct, and in en- 
abling him to close a well-spent life with the full hope, through the 
merits of his Savior, of a blissful immortality beyond the grave. The 
Board of Managers would not only derive from these cheering recollec- 
tions consolation for their loss, but incitement to an increased measure 
of exertion in that work which so engrossed the affections of their 
lamented president ; and, while they are diligently employed in diffusing 
abroad the Word of Life, encouragement in seeking to realize for them- 
selves its inestimable benefits. 

" With the mourning daughter of their deceased friend, for so many 
years the partaker of his joys and sorrows, the companion of his jour- 
neys, and his amiable assistant in well-doing, the members of this 



406 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

board sincerely sympathize, and respectfully transmit to her this feeble 
expression of their feelings toward her venerable parent, as evidence of 
the affection with which they vidsh to embalm, his memory, and the 
sincerity with which they condole with her under the bereavement she 
has experienced." 

Letter from the Freddent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

''Dec. 17, 1821. 
" Gentlemen, 

" In full accordance with the feelings of the Committee of the Brit- 
ish and Foreign Bible Society, I now discharge the melancholy duty 
of communicating the expression of their sympathy and condolence to 
their American brethren and fellow-laborers on the loss which they 
have sustained in the lamented death of their most venerable and re- 
spected president. 

" On such an event, they can not but indulge the soothing reflection 
that the remembrance of departed worth will long retain its influence 
in promoting the interests of that holy religion which Dr. Boudinot so 
zealously cultivated, as well as the prosperity of that society which he 
so anxiously labored to advance. 

" I have the honor to be, gentlemen, your most obedient humble ser- 
vant, Teignmouth, 

"President of the British and Foreign Bible Society." 

Letter from the Librarian of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

''Jan. 31, 1823. 
" Sm, 

" The Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society feel a 
pleasure in every opportunity of confirming the fraternal relation that 
exists between themselves and the American Bible Society, though the 
present occasion of correspondence is indeed a mournful one. 

*' I have to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from you of the 23d 
Nov., 1822, inclosing the resolution of your committee on occasion of 
the intelligence of the decease of our late secretary, the Rev. John 
Owen. The satisfaction that we experience from the testimonies of 
respect for our lamented friend, which are received from every quarter 
of the globe, is great and reasonable, and we draw consolation from the 
hope that in each of these distant regions there may be some few at 
least who shall one day arise and call him blessed for his labors, and 
shall be to him for a crown of rejoicing. 

*' The correspondence with the American Bible Society was one of 
the departments of office in which Mr. Owen took much delight. His 
discerning mind saw clearly that the identity of our aims, and the sin- 



APPENDIX. 407 

gleness and simplicity of our object, afforded the surest bond of union ; 
and his warm feehngs exulted in the thought that a British and an 
American institution should march hand in hand together, to propagate 
the sacred truths of that religion, in defense of which their common 
fathers had resisted even mito blood, and he trusted that they would 
go forth endued with power from on high, conquering and to conquer. 
But he has been taken off in. the midst of his years, and all his thoughts 
and his projects sleep with him, for a season at least, in the tomb. 

" You are not unacquainted, sir, with the feelings attendant upon 
such a loss as that which we have sustained. We have not forgotten 
the late venerable head of your society, who so short a time since was 
gathered unto his fathers. He, too, was lamented by many who had 
never seen or known him in his life, but who joined in sympathy with 
the friends who had experienced more immediately his loss, and could 
better appreciate his worth. To the feelings of our friends, both in 
London and in Paris, on that occasion, I can bear testimony from per- 
sonal observation. 

" May these losses tend to excite in us all that spirit which you ^ 
well express, that we may reflect that with us also ' the time is short,' 
and it behooves us, therefore, to work while it is day, for that night is 
coming upon us wherein no man can work. 

" I remain, sir, yours, with great respect and esteem, 

" Thomas Pell Platt." 

Address of the Hon. John Jay, President of the American Bible So- 
ciety. 
" Gentlemen, 

" We have the satisfaction of again observing, that by the blessing 
of Providence on the zeal of our fellow-citizens, and on the fidelity, dili- 
gence, and prudence with which our affairs are conducted, they con- 
tinue in a state of progressive improvement. The pleasure we derive 
from it is not a little mcreased by the consideration that we are trans- 
mitting essential benefits to multitudes in various regions ; and that 
the value and important consequences of these benefits extend and will 
endure beyond the limits of time. By so doing we render obedience to 
the commandment by which He who ' made of one blood all nations 
of men,' and established a fraternal relation between the individuals of 
the human race, hath made it their duty to love and be kind to one 
another. 

" We know that a great proportion of mankind are ignorant of the 
revealed will of God, and that they have strong. claims to the sympathy 
and compassion which we, who are favored with it, feel and are mani- 
festing for them. To the most sagacious among the heathen it must 



408 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

appear wonderful and inexplicable that such a vicious, suffering heing 
as man should have proceeded in such a condition from the hands of 
his Creator. Having obscure and confused ideas of a future state, and 
unable to ascertain how far justice may yield to mercy, or mercy to 
justice, they live and die (as our heathen ancestors did) involved in 
darkness and perplexities. 

" By conveying the Bible to people thus circumstanced, we certain- 
ly do them a most interesting act of kindness. We thereby enable 
them to learn that man was originally created and placed in a state 
of happiness, but, becoming disobedient, was subjected to the degra- 
dation and evils which he and his posterity have since experienced. 
The Bible will also inform them that our gracious Creator has provided 
for us a Redeemer, in whom all the nations of the earth should be 
blessed — that this Redeemer has made atonement ' for the sins of the 
whole world,' and thereby reconciling the divine justice with the divine 
mercy, has opened a way for our redemption and salvation ; and that 
these inestimable benefits are of the free gift and grace of God, not of 
our deserving, nor in our power to deserve. The Bible will also ani- 
mate them with many explicit and consoling assurances of the divine 
mercy to our fallen race, and with repeated invitations to accept the 
offers of pardon and reconciliation. The truth of these facts and the 
sincerity of these assurances being unquestionable, they can not fail to 
promote the happiness of those by whom they are gratefully received, 
and of those by whom they are benevolently communicated. 

" We have also the satisfaction of observing that the condition of the 
Church continues to improve. When, at certain periods subsequent to 
the Reformation, discordant opinions on ecclesiastical subjects began to 
prevail, they produced disputes and asperities which prompted those 
who embraced the same peculiar opinions to form themselves into dis- 
tinct associations or sects. Those sects not only permitted Christian 
fraternity with each other to be impaired by coldness, reserve, and dis- 
trust, but also, on the occurrence of certain occasions, proceeded to al- 
ternate and culpable acts of oppression. Even their endeavors to in- 
crease the number of Christians were often too intimately connected 
with a desire to increase the number of their adherents, and hence 
they became more solicitous to repress competition than to encourage 
reciprocal respect and good will. 

" These prejudices, however, have gradually been giving way to 
more laudable feelings. By the progress of civilization and useful 
knowledge, many individuals became better qualified to distinguish 
truth from error, and the diffusion of their reasonings among the people 
enabled them to judge and to act with less risk of committing mistakes. 
Since the rights of man and the just limits of authority in church and 



APPENDIX. 4Q9 

state have been more generally and clearly understood, the Church has 
been less disturbed by that zeal which ' is not according to knowledge,' 
and liberal sentiments and tolerant principles are constantly enlarging 
the sphere of their influence. 

" To the advantages which the Church has derived from the im- 
proved state of society, may be added those which are resulting from 
the institution of Bible societies. With whatever degree of tenacity 
any of the sects may adhere to their respective peculiarities, they all 
concur in opinion respecting the Bible, and the propriety of extensively 
distributing it without note or comment. They therefore readily be- 
come members of Bible societies, and in that capacity freely co-operate. 
Their frequent meetings and consultations produce an intercourse 
which affords them numerous opportunities of forming just estimates 
of one another, and of perceiving that prepossessions are not always well 
founded. This intercourse is rendered the more efficient by the great 
and increasing number of clerical members from dissimilar denomina- 
tions. Convinced by observation and experience that persons of great 
worth and piety are attached to sects different from their own, the du- 
ties of their vocation and their respectable characters naturally incline 
them to recommend and encourage Christian friendliness. 

"It is well known that both cathedrals and meeting-houses have 
heretofore exliibited individuals who have been universally and justly 
celebrated as real and useful Christians ; and it is also well Imown 
that at present not a few, under similar circumstances and of similar 
characters, deserve the like esteem and commendation. As 7-eal Chris- 
tians are made so by Him without whom we ' can do nothing,' it is 
equally certain that he receives them into his family, and that in his 
family mutual love and uninterrupted concord never cease to prevail. 
There is no reason to believe or suppose that this family will be divided 
into separate classes, and that separate apartments in the mansions of 
bliss will be allotted to them according to the different sects from which 
they had proceeded. 

" These truths and considerations direct our attention to the neio 
commandment of our Savior, that his disciples ' do love one another :' 
although an anterior commandment required that, ' as we had oppor- 
tunity,' we should ' do good unto all men,' yet this neiv one makes it 
our dut}'- to do so ' especially to the household of faith.' In the early 
ages of the Church, Christians were highly distinguished by their obe- 
dience to it, and it is to be regretted that the conduct of too many of 
their successors has, in this respect, been less worthy of imitation. 

" Our days are becoming more and more favored and distinguished 
by new and unexpected accessions of strength to the cause of Christian- 
ity. A zoal unknown to many preceding ages has recently pervaded 



410 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

almost every Christian country, and occasioned the establishment of 
institutions well calculated to diffuse the knowledge and impress the 
precepts of the Gospel both at home and abroad. The number and 
diversity of these institutions, their concurrent tendency to promote 
these purposes, and the multitudes who are cordially giving them aid 
and support, are so extraordinary, and so little analogous to the dictates 
of human propensities and passions, that no adequate cause can be as- 
signed for them but the goodness, wisdom, and will of Him who made 
and governs the world. 

" We have reason to rejoice that such institutions have been so 
greatly multiplied and cherished in the United States, especially as a 
kind Providence has blessed us not only with peace and plenty, but also 
with the full and secure enjoyment of our civil and religious rights and 
privileges. Let us therefore persevere in our endeavors to promote the 
operation of these institutions, and to accelerate the attainment of their 
objects. Their unexampled rise, progress, and success in giving light 
to the heathen, and in rendering Christians more and more ' obedient to 
the faith,' apprise us that the great Captain of our salvation is going 
forth ' conquering and to conquer,' and is directing and employing these 
means and measures for that important purpose. They, therefore, who 
enlist in his service, have the highest encouragement to fulfill the du- 
ties assigned to their respective stations, for most certain it is that those 
of his followers who steadfastly and vigorously contribute to the further- 
ance and completion of his conquests, will also participate in the tran- 
scendent glories and blessings of his Triumph." 

Extract of a JLetter from the Rev. John Summerfield, Liverpool. 

" Liverpool, May 21, 3823. 

" It [the nineteenth annual meeting of the British and Foreign 
Bible Society] was the most imposing scene that ever my eyes beheld ! 
nor do I look for a full realization of the feelings with which I was 
then possessed at any future period of my life, until I gaze with open 
face upon the ' general assembly and church of first-born which are 
written in heaven,' presided over by ' Jesus, the Mediator of the New 
Covenant,' and ' the head of all things to his church.' 

" * that with that celestial throng 
We at his feet may fall ! 
Join in the everlasting song, 
And crown him " Lord of all." ' 

" The inclosed document from Baron de Stael I hoped to have for- 
warded by you ; but I now judge it my duty to transmit it, that you 
may be put in possession of the cordial recognition of my relation to 
the society, thus officially communicated." 



APPENDIX. 4.11 

Letter frorji the Baron de Staiil, Secretary of the Protestaiit Bible 
Society, Paris. 

" Paris, April 20, 1823. 
" Sir, 

" I can not but consider it as a very fortunate circumstance in my 
life, that it should be my lot to express, in the name of the Paris Prot- 
estant Bible Society, the heartfelt satisfaction with which they were 
filled in seeing a deputy from the American Bible Society present at 
their annual meeting. 

" The Rev. Mr. Summerfield was in every respect a fit representa- 
tive — I would almost say a faithful image of that admirable country 
which rates the luxuriant vigor of a rising nation with the experiencp 
of old states. He will tell you, and we trust you will hear with satis- 
faction, that it has pleased God to bless our eflx)rts with new success. 
Notwithstanding the sad difficulties we met in some instances, we have 
added to our numbers thirteen auxiliary or branch societies, and more 
than thirty Bible associations, sixteen of which have begun their work 
of piety and regeneration in the very center of the metropolis. The 
contributions from our auxiliary societies have increased fourfold ; and 
the total amount of our receipts exceed, by 63,000 francs, the resources 
of last year. Such a result has surpassed our most sanguine expec- 
tations. 

" Our excellent friend Mr. Wilder will soon revisit his native shores, 
and we can not sufficiently express how deeply his absence will be felt 
by all who Avitnessed his indefatigable zeal for the promotion of true 
Christianity in this country. But if any thing can lessen our regret, 
it is the confidence that Mr. Wilder's stay among his countr^^men will 
lead to a more and more evangelical union between the good men on 
both sides of the Atlantic, and secure to us the continuance of your 
kindness and benevolence, than which no human reward can be a more 
welcome recompense for our feeble labors. 

" With the highest regard and most fraternal attachment, we re- 
main, sir, your most obedient humble servants, 

" For the Committee, A. Stael, Secretaiy." 

Letter from the Rev. Dr. Morrisoji, Macao. 

"Macao, Sept. 1, 1823. 
" Sir, 
" In October, 1821, I received from you, in the name of the Amer- 
ican Bible Society, an elegantly bound English Bible, and, at the same 
time, one for the Rev. Dr. Milne. On June 2, 1822, Dr. Milne de- 
parted this life. The American Bible Society's present remains, in 
memory of their father, in the possession of his four orphan children. 



412 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" I now send for the American Bible Society a copy of Morrison's 
and Milne's Chinese version of the Bible, bound together in the Chinese 
manner. 

" This book is daily studied at the Anglo-Chinese college, and there, 
it is hoped, its contents will be gradually understood by the Chinese 
students. To circulate the sacred Scriptures in China extensively, in 
the present state of things, is not practicable ; and the colonists in the 
Archipelago are so eager in the pursuit of gain, or the enjoyment of 
pleasure, they but seldom show much inclination to study divine revela- 
tion. But the friends of the Bible still persevere ; and at Malacca, 
and other stations of the London Missionary Society in the Archipelago, 
copies of the Scriptures or particular books are distributed to Chinese 
and Cochin-Chinese who visit those places. 

" May the Divine Author of the Bible, by his Holy Spirit, create a 
taste for his Holy Word among the millions who read the Chinese. 

" The Chinese missionaries connected with us notice corrections and 
emendations of the version, and send them to the Anglo-Chinese college, 
where they are preserved, and, being approved, inserted in the original 
blocks. 

" May the usefulness of the American Bible Society daily increase. 
" I remain yours, &c., Robert Morrison." 

Extract of a Letter from the Foreign Secretary of the British and 
Foreign Bible Society. 

"London, Mmj 17, 1826. 

" We should have been glad to have seen a deputy from America 
tn the midst of us ; however, we had an individual who Avas with you 
last year, the Rev. Mr. Ellis, from the Sandwich Islands, whose in- 
formation greatly cheered and delighted us. The extracts from your 
last printed report introduced into ours, and read, were received with 
much satisfaction, and particularly the statement of your university 
Bible societies. Dr. Philip, from Cape Town, gave us, as you will see 
in his speech, pleasing information about Africa ; and a Col. Phipps 
and a Mr. Fox brought tidings of great joy from the East. The French 
baron, whose speech is also given, was the representative of the Paris 
Bible Society ; and thus, from the four quarters of the world, we heard 
abundant information to make us thankful for the society's formation 
and past operations, and to encourage us for the future, 

" Since the annual meeting we have heard of the cessation of the 
Burmese war. We have no concern in politics. The politicians of 
the earth, however, in accomplishing their own schemes, often open a 
door at which Christian workmen may enter ; and we can not but hope 
that this is the case in this instance. Mr. Fox, in his address, men- 



APPENDIX. 4X3 

tioned that such is the veneration of the learned Burmese for the PaU 
language, that nothing written or printed in it will ever be destroyed. 
The New Testament in this language must be nearly printed at 
Colombo by this time, and will shortly be put into circulation, and this 
superstitious regard for .their language may, perhaps, turn to good ac- 
count. The Chinese Bible is gradually working its way, and we are 
in hopes that, by employing a person for the express purpose, an exten- 
sive circulation may take place in the course of the ensuing year. This 
measure has been urged upon us from different quarters, and has only 
been delayed by our not having met with a suitable person to under- 
take the work. Such an individual we have now presented to us, ac-' 
quainted with the Chinese language, but our measures with reference 
to him are not yet matured. I have said nothing about South Amer- 
ica ; the letters from that country continue to evince the lamentable 
w'ant of the Scriptures, and the readiness of multitudes to receive 
them. Mr. Armstrong, whom you know, is settled at Buenos Ayres, 
not as the direct agent, but still the zealous friend of the society. 
Another individual has presented himself to our notice as an agent," 
and will, I believe, shortly leave England for this very important 
sphere of labor. 

" In the closing paragraph of our report I have ventured to write, 
' On every side we hear the voice of God and see his hand ;' and I 
trust that this is not the language of presumption. May we enter 
fully into the sentiment, and be excited to have zeal to give the Bible 
to others, and to more afTection and obedience to the sacred volume 
ourselves. 

" Present my kind regard to your fellow-laborers. 
" Dear sir, yours faithfully, 

" A. Brandram, Secretary." 

Letter from the President of the Swedish Bible Society. 
" Gentlemen, 

" The Swedish Bible Society, in consequence of the union and 
friendship which exist between the societies, has the honor of com- 
municating their Twelfth Year's Report, from which the American 
Bible Society, certainly with pleasure, will see the progress which the 
society here has made during the course of the last year. 

" It is with the liveliest interest the committee here received the in- 
telligence of the increasing support and circulation which the Bible 
receives within the circle of the society's operations in America. 

"The exchange of what we in common experience of the blessing of 
the Most High upon our weak efforts to effect the good work that God 
has established, constitutes the greatest joy and encouragement for all 



414 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



that are engaged in the circulation of the Scriptures, to go on with 
unremitting diHgence with what has been begun, offering up the most 
earnest prayers to the Author of the Scriptures that he would take 
under his special care all our exertions for the good cause. 

" The committee begs leave to assure the American Bible Society 
of its unalterable attachment and highest esteem. 

" M. ROSENBLAD, 

" President of Swedish Bible Society. 
" Stockholm, 4iA May, 1827." 

Proceedings of the British and Foreign Bible Society. 

" At a meeting of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible 
Society, held 2d of June, 1828, the Right Hon. Lord Bexley, V. P., 
in the chair. 

" Read a letter from the Rev. Dr. Milnor, secretary to the Amer- 
ican Bible Society, dated New York, April 15, 1828, communicating 
three resolutions passed by the Board of Managers. The first ex- 
plicitly declares that the principles on which the society was established 
exclude the circulation of the Apocrypha ; the second directs the plates 
of the Spanish Bible (the only one to which the Apocrypha was at- 
tached by that Society) to be altered, so as to exclude the apocryphal 
books ; and the third resolution orders that those books shall be re- 
moved from all the Spanish Bibles remaining in the depository before 
any more copies are issued. 

" Resolved, That this committee receive the above communication 
with much satisfaction. 

" (Extract from the Minutes.) 

" John Jackson, Assistant Foreign Secretary." 

" British and Foreign Bible Society, June 20, 1828. 
" Rev, Dr. Milnor. — My dear Friend, 

" It has been my usual practice, at this period of the year, to write 
you at some length an account of our annual meeting. I would gladly 
adhere to the custom were it really in my power, but I have so much 
upon my hands that my time will not admit it. 

'* I received both your letters by Mr. Patton. I am soriy that he 
arrived too late for our anniversary. America was, however, very ably 
represented by the Rev. B. Allen, from Philadelphia. 

" We rejoice much in the increase of your exertions and in your 
prosperity, and I would add also, as a matter of some considerable im- 
portance, in the determination which you have come to as a society, 
and to which the resolution I transmit to you refers. I can not but 
indulge the hope that the united voice of our respective societies will 



APPENDIX. 425 

produce an effect. Though I myself resisted the adoption of the views 
now taken, I am perfectly satisfied, and can with the utmost cordiality 
endeavor to carry them into effect. In doing this we meet with much 
encouragement, though we are not without our hinderances. 

" Mr. Patton, in examining the Bibles provided by our society, saw, 
or fancied he saw, a degree of superiority in them to those furnished by 
yours, and he therefore has requested that we would present you with 
some specimens. I need not say how much pleasure it gave our com- 
mittee to show you this little token of the very sincere regard we en- 
tertain for you. They are offered in the true spirit of those lines, which 
I quote from memory, 

*' ' Si quid novisti rectius istis 
Candidus impex'ti. Si non his utere mecum.' 

" Accept my kindest regards for yourself and fellow-laborers, and be- 
lieve me yours very sincerely, 

" A. Brandram, Secretary." 

Letter to the Rev. J. C. Briglmm, D.D., Corresponding Secretary of" 
the American Bible Society, from the Rev. Mr. Te7nple, Malta. 

"Malta, Feb. 18, 1833. 
" My dear Brother, 

" Your kind letter of Oct. 22d reached me some weeks since, bear- 
ing the agreeable intelligence that you have completed plates for print- 
ing the New Testament in modern Greek. I rejoice that you have 
done this, and still more do I rejoice in the prospect of your being able 
to meet all the demands of the missionaries from our country for the 
sacred Scriptures, for distribution at the various stations, and in the 
wide fields where they are laboring. 

'' This is as it should be ; for surely every friend of the American 
Bible Society must wish to see its influence extended, and still extend- 
ing far beyond the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills of his native 
land. I most devoutly hope it will very soon deserve, if it does not as- 
sume, the name of the American and Foreign Bible Society. It should 
be, and I trust it soon will be, the noble and virtuous emulation of all 
our pious and benevolent countrymen to scatter around the entire globe 
that divinely-inspired Volume, to whose influence, far more than to all 
other causes, our favored country owes its enviable rank among the na- 
tions of the world. 

" Our Armenian Bishop Carabet will have finished, within another 
week, the translation of the Old Testament into the Armeno-Turkish 
language, should his life and health be spared him. I know not at 
present what arrangements may be deemed expedient in executing the 
printing of this translation. I should wish it to be done, if possible, by 



4 I () 



A M 1'] [{ I C A N IJ 1 13 I. E S O C 1 E T Y. 



the Aiiiericau Bible Society. The whole must undergo a thorough 
revision before it can be put to the press, wherever it may be printed. 

" Wlienever your edition of the (J-reok New Tostuinent is completed, 
I should anticipate many usoiul and important results should you send 
a good, trusty, and active agent into Greece and the Levaut lor the 
pur|)ose of putting tlieni into circulation. Some dillicidties would 
doubtless be encountered in such an enterprise, and considerable items 
of expense must, of course, be incurred ; but then an interest would be 
awakened at home on this subject, I should' hope, that would more 
than justily such a measure. The British and Foreign Bible Society 
has, as you know, for a long time employed au agent in the Levant, 
and tlie good thus accomplished is very great. For myself", I should 
rejoice to learn that you have resolved to scud an agent to encourage 
our Christian brethren in tliese countries, and to co-operate with them 
in re()])eiiiug the M^ells of salvation, which have been stopped up ibr so 
many ages by the modern Philistines. The astonishing changes and 
revolutions in these countries within the last i'cw years, and, more than 
all, within the last year, by tlie victorious troops of the modern Pharaoh 
of Egypt, have very greatly increased the facilities for giving free 
course to the Word oi" (lod. May these facilities increase till every 
obstacle is taken out, of the way. 

" I bless God that your life has been spared wliile the overdowing 
scourge has passed through your city and swe})t a nudtitude to the 
grave. Dear brother, my whole heart says, 'Vhc Lord Jesus Christ be 
with your si)irit, and with tlie spirit of all who are associated with you 
in the great woik of dilliising the holy oracles. 

" With much allection, very truly yours, 

" 1). Temvle." 

Comininiicatiou of tlie llcv. Wni. S. JPhwic?; D.D., of Virginia, 
in rclalion lo iJie ^tr/yp/i/i/fi^ of tlie world irilh ilie Scriptures in a 
siiorl '[H'riod. 

" To the rcspcctcii Hoard of MtiHa^irs of tlic American Uthle Socitti/: 

" Gejmtlemen, 
" Knowing your great zeal and readiness in the immeasurable work 
in which you have engaged, and not doubting but my communication 
of recent date has ere this time been submitted to your venerable body, 
and feeling that some thoughts naturally eonse(pient upon those of my 
conununication of the present month are called lor, 1 resume my pen 
to address you. In my late communication, I transmitted copies of 
several resolutions unanimously passed by dillerent and widely-separated 
bodies of men, and also eopii's of other testimonies in favor of a resolu- 
tion to su[)i)ly the accessible reading and Avilling population of the earth, 



APPENDIX. 417 

within a definite period, ^vitll the Word of Life. In my present com- 
munication I de:>ire to show that such a work can be done, and that 
without any miracle, or any impoverishing of the workl, or any lar«je 
portion of it. I know the amount of money caUed for will not be a 
small sum, and yet I know that there is more money and property in 
one street of your city, or in two streets of Philadelphia, than would 
accomplish the work. If hundreds of thousands sotaid high, let it be 
remembered that one horse-race m the United States cost not less than 
$300,000, and that one nobleman in England has an annual income 
of .£300,000 sterlhig. The interest on the national debt of great Brit- 
ain is £-10,000,000 per annum. So that we have large sums of real 
wealth presented to us, turn where we will. And shall such noble 
causes as your own be forever compelled to add up a few scores of 
thousands per ammm, and no more, wliile even a horse-race gets hund- 
reds of thousands ? I trust not. Even from the foregoing statement, 
it is obviously not absurd, at the first thought, to speak of the plan as 
possible. But let us proceed a step further. The population of the 
earth may, for our present purposes, be estimated at 600,000,000. This 
calculation is 100,000,000 larger than many make. Allowing five per- 
sons to a family, there are then 100,000,000 families. But not less 
than 30,000,000 of these families are already supplied. This leaves 
130,000,000 laniihes destitute of the Bible. On an average. Bibles 
cost one dollar each. Then we want $130,000,000. We propose to 
get this sum, say in twenty years. Can it be done ? In order to 
raise $130,000,000 in twenty years, we must raise $6,500,000 per 
aimum for t\\'enty years. Can this be done ? There are believed to 
be in the world not less than 20,000,000 of truly pious persons. Can 
they not each raise o2^ cents per annum ; and will they not do it ? 
If they can, and will, we shall have the $6,500,000 per annum. 

" But a large part of those to whom the Bible is sent are willhig to 
pay for it. The British and Foreign Bible Society aim to distribute 
few copies of the Scriptures gratuitously. Suppose, then, that one 
third of the Bibles sent out by Bible societies shall be sold ; then we 
want in twenty years only $66,000,000, or $4,333,333 per ammm. 
This sum, divided among the 20,000,000 of pious people, gives to each 
one about 2 If cents. This would not be a burdensome contribution. 

" But, then, just in proportion as the Bible cause in the hands of 
Bible societies goes forward, just in the same proportion does private 
capital prepaie, and private enterprise scatter the Bible. All t'.ij)eri- 
cnce is in favor of this assertion. It was said, indeed, that Bible so- 
cieties Mould injure private booksellers ; but all experience disproves 
the assertion. ' One house,' said Dr. M'Auley, at your last anniver- 
sary, ' one house, in the space of a few months, sold 12,000 Bibles here 



418 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

in the United States.' I am credibly informed that another house, 
having several branches, sold in fourteen months, in the United States, 
$40,000 v^rorth of German Bibles. Indeed, dear as stereotype plates 
are, one of your own body, who is acquainted with such business, told 
me that the founders could scarcely furnish stereotype plates for the 
Bible as fast as publishers of that holy book called for them. This is 
the state of things in America. How was it before the existence of 
Bible Societies? Why, in 1782, Pvobert Aitken, having obtained a 
long preamble and resolution from the Congress of the United States, 
setting forth the difficulties of printing the Bible in the United States, 
and pledging the national treasury for a certain amount, ventured to 
publish an edition of the Holy Scriptures ; and now almost any little 
bookseller who chooses may, without any serious risk, have a large 
and handsome edition of the Bible printed, without having a single 
copy pledged before the work is published. So much for the state of 
things in this nation. 

" Similar facts might easily be gathered respecting other parts of 
Christendom. The number, not less than the neatness, of the Bibles 
published at the Oxford press alone is truly amazing. Private enter- 
prise may be relied on, then, to circulate one third of the whole num- 
ber of copies of the Scriptures which are sent out among the nations, 
so that we only want $43,333,333, in twenty years, for gratuitous dis- 
tribution. Or we want $2,166,666 per annum, being about 10 cents 
and 8 mills per annum for every pious person on earth. And can not 
this be had ? Tell the tale to the world — the Christian world, and see 
if it can not be had. You will have the goodness to observe that 
nothing is here said of the certain reduction that will occur in the cost 
of paper, type, and the whole business of preparing books for use and 
circulation. That a further reduction must take place, I presume none 
will doubt. 

" The foregoing estimate also goes on the supposition that every 
family on earth is accessible to Bible agents, is willing to receive and 
able to read the Scriptures. This, however, is by no means the case, 
nor have we the assurance that such will be the case within twenty 
years. 

" Moreover, the Bible cause has thousands and tens of thousands of 
liberal and decided friends who do not even profess to be pious, and do 
not, therefore, make a part of the 20,000,000 of persons named in this 
calculation ; so that we may boldly say, less than 10 cents annually from 
every hopefully pious man on earth will do the work in twenty years. 

" But, throwing aside all abatements, supposing that Bible societies 
have to do the whole work alone, and are not able to sell a single Bible, 
even then all the money that will be necessary will be, from each 



APPENDIX. 4 I 9 

hopefully pious man, if paid at one time, not $1000, nor $100, nor 
$50, nor $10, but merely $6 50. Give this, and the work is done. 
Respecting money, therefore, there can be no difficulty, except such as 
shall originate in a criminal and high degree of cupidity, selfishness, 
and sloth, so glaring as that the Christian world must just stand and 
have her face covered with a burning shame, or reform and come up 
to the work. 

" The foregoing statements have been made, not for the purpose of 
showing hoio the work will be done, but that it can be done. None 
but a foolish man would ever think of actually raising funds in such a 
method from the Christian ivorld. Nor are such arguments suited to 
the purpose of raising money ; but they are intended merely to show 
to a calculating mind the entire practicability of the work, provided 
those who can be aroused shall engage in the plan. The real way in 
which the thing ivill be done will be by some giving all they are worth 
to have the work done. A feiv have already done this. Pass the 
river, and cut down the bridge, and many will do it. Many, also,, 
who will not give all, will yet give some, perhaps as much as duty to 
their dependents will permit. The agent for Virginia has often told 
individuals to withhold their hands, to refrain, because they would dis- 
tress themselves. Again, many would in their last wills remember 
this cause. It has been remembered in this way already out of Vir- 
ginia, yes, and in Virginia. Children and poor people will forego even 
lawful gratifications to forward the work. A little girl in Virginia 
proposed to eat no butter for a month, that she might get twenty-five 
cents to make her an annual member of a little Female Bible Society. 
As the agent was pleading the cause of the dying world in one of the 
upper counties, a poor woman said to her husband, * I have fifty cents 
saved to buy coffee with. It is hid in such a place. Go home and 
get it, and make haste back, lest the good man be gone. I will do 
without coffee a little while longer, until these people get the Gospel 
among them.' The truth is, the treasury of the Lord is the hearts of 
his people ; get them rightly affected, and they will give all to a good 
object, if necessar}^ Many such things occur all over this land every 
year, and their occurrence increases in frequency every year. The 
money, therefore, can be had. 

" The next question touching the feasibility of this plan relates to 
translations. On this subject it is easy, perhaps it would be best (it 
was in the original resolution, on the doctrine of which I received the 
letters which you have published) to frame a resolution so as not to 
pledge yourselves in the work of translation further than may be found 
practicable on a fair experiment. So that, on the subject of transla- 
tions, there is not need of very much inquiry at present, in order to 



420 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

learn what our duty is. Estimating the population of the earth at 
800,000,000, one fourth of the whole number live in Christian coun- 
tries, and have translations of the Bible in their own languages. Two 
hundred millions are then furrushed with translations. Not less than 
350,000,000 of people read, if any, the language into which Drs. Milne 
and Morrison have translated the Scriptures. Five hundred and fifty 
millions are then provided for. The many translations prepared by the 
Baptists and others in the East will certainly supply at least an addi- 
tional 100,000,000. We have then 650,000,000 provided for. The 
residue of 150,000,000, or three sixteenths of the whole, have the 
Scriptures to some such extent as follows : There are the Arabic Scrip- 
tures for 10,000,000 ; the Persian for 8,000,000 ; that for Asiatic 
Siberia (now in the press), not less than 20,000,000 ; the Turkish, Ar- 
meno-Turkish, and Armenian, not less than 12,000,000 ; leaving not 
quite 100,000,000 without any translation in their own language. But 
then not a few of them, as several of the Indian tribes, &c., are able, 
to some extent, to read some language into which the Bible is trans- 
lated. Some other abatements are to be made ; so that there are 
probably not more than 70 or 80,000,000 without a translation, and 
perhaps not 50,000,000, who have a written or printed language, with- 
out such translation in part or in whole. So that we may hope, that 
before the great body of these people shall be fairly accessible to agents, 
we will have either translations, or translators prepared to enter on the 
work of translation. But, as was said, no resolution passed by any 
Bible Society, contemplating the supply of the nations generally, need 
exceed the limits fixed by translations already made or soon to be made. 
" The third point, to which I offer but feiv remarks, is the subject 
of agencies. Can agents be had to do the work ? I suppose they can 
be had. There are men in abundance, many of whom would love to 
be employed in such a work. And it would require by no means as 
many agents as some would suppose. One efficient agent can himself, 
and alone, supply a considerable kingdom in the space of twenty years. 
Just see what one man has done in the north of Europe, and indeed 
all around the Baltic. I refer to Dr. Patterson. We have also had 
some voluntary agencies undertaken in the United States, which have 
brought about equally remarkable results. Suppose Gutzlaff shall live 
twenty years, and China continue even as accessible as it is now, and 
the books be furnished in any number he may desire, how many hund- 
reds of thousands of copies would he distribute ? Or furnish a less 
daring and more quiet, but equally worthy man, who was at your last 
anniversary, Pv-ev. D. O. Allen, of Bombay, with as many Bibles as he 
can dispose of during the rest of his life, if he shall live but ten years, 
and what wonders would he effect I This man hastened home from 



APPENDIX. j^ ' ' 

the United States, intending to spend the rest of his days engaged in 
good part in this blessed work. Besides, it is found altogether practi- 
cable, and, of course, expedient, to employ in very successful agencies 
other persons than those who are reared in Christian countries. There 
are converts to Christianity already sufficiently numerous in Burmah 
to supply that empire in far less than twenty years, unless I am utterly 
erroneous in my calculations, and in this I think I can not be mistaken. 
" So much for the feasibility of the plan, rendered probable by what 
we can see and count. These are not, however, the estimates of any 
thing more than cold and casual calculation. The estimates of Chris- 
tian love and holy confidence in God are far higher, and are the only 
foundation on wdiich much has ever been done, or ever will be done. 
The estimates of faith are the only basis on which we are justified in 
acting in the afTairs of our royal Master, Jesus Christ. On this sub- 
ject I say nothing further at present, not doubting but the faith of 
your respected body is much stronger than my own, and also intending 
to make another communication shortly on this great subject." 

Dissolution of the Methodist Bible Society. 

Previous to the year 1S36 the Methodist Episcopal Church had a 
Bible Society of its own. To this society, from time to time, the Amer- 
ican Bible Society made liberal donations for the gratuitous supply of 
destitute families and Sabbath schools. 

At the General Conference of the year above named, held in the city 
of Cincinnati, a resolution was passed dissolving the Methodist Bible 
Society, and merging it into the American Bible Society. 

The different Conferences, by resolutions and otherwise, yielded a 
cordial assent to this measure, and the co-operation of the Church in a 
very short time became general. At each annual convocation resolu- 
tions are passed making it the duty of every traveling preacher to take 
up collections in their respective churches in aid of the funds of the 
national society. 

J^xtract from a Discourse on the Death of John Nitchie, Esq., 
Treasurer of the American Bible Society. 

" The large and discriminating mind of Mr. Nitchie was richly 
stored with the treasures of information and thought. His education 
was originally thorough and solid ; he had a great thirst for knowl- 
edge ; his opportunities w.ere uncommonly good, and his experience 
and observation were extensive ; and these, connected with his various 
reading — particularly upon religious subjects, and, most of all, of the 
Bible — furnished him with a fund of. important information altogether 
xarely to be met with. His knowledge of the Scriptures — particularly 



^22 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

his critical acquaintance with the original language of the New Testa- 
ment — was probably more minute, accurate, and extensive than that 
of almost, any other individual, layman or clergyman, in our community. 
In addition to his ordinary reading of the Bible — which he daily prac- 
ticed — the close attention which he was called to pay to it, during the 
nineteen years that he was in the service of the American Bible So- 
ciety, in examining and correcting their publications, had almost copied 
it entire upon the tablet of his memory. And this fund of information 
contributed, in an eminent degree, to impart that value to his charac- 
ter which his acquaintances were ever ready to award to him. In all 
the relations and associations of life, he was the more highly esteemed 
because always instructive. 

" Another interesting trait in our friend's character was almost an 
excess of modesty, combined with his excellent talents and great store 
of knowledge. His self-diffidence and humble estimate of his own 
powers approached toward a fault, and no doubt sometimes kept him 
back from imparting instruction in pubhc, for which he was well quali- 
fied. His acquaintances know how averse he was to doing any thing that 
might be interpreted into an assertion of superiority ; how readily, in 
the discharge of his duties, he condescended to the humblest walks of 
life ; how disposed he was to defer to brethren who were, in many re- 
spects, his inferiors ; and with what amiable meekness he would place 
himself to listen at the feet of one who could make no pretensions to 
equality with him in ability and acquirements. These were character- 
istics of his mind, which endeared him very much to the hearts of his 
associates and friends.- 

" But the time would fail us to remark on all that in him we 
esteemed and admired. We are most concerned with his religious 
character. We have said already that Mr. Nitchie professed religion 
at about twenty-three or twenty-four years of age ; and as he died at 
fifty- four, he lived something more than thirty years a member of the 
Christian Church. From the universal testimony of those who knew 
him during the early part of his Christian life, and from the fact that 
he was chosen to sustain important offices in the Church, and that a 
most responsible station was confided to him in connection with the 
American Bible Society, it is evident he was early known as a con- 
sistent, decided, and devoted Christian. Such was the tenor of his 
whole life. To those, however, who were favored with a long and in- 
timate acquaintance with him, it appears that the growth of his piety 
was much the most rapid within the last eight or ten years. In par- 
ticular, during that precious revival of religion in 1831, his piety re- 
ceived an impulse which it nev^r lost. His Christian feelings were 
then kindled up to a flame ; with all his powers he was engaged in 



APPENDIX. 42o 

the work of the Lord iii the South Reformed Dutch Church. It is 
thought that he accomplished more than any other layman in that 
church at that time ; and, in the hand of God, he was made the means 
of bringing many from darkness into marvelous light. And, as we 
said, that spirit he never lost — that season he never forgot — but spake 
of it frequently with tender interest while he lived ; and from that time 
his piety became ascendant, and the love of souls seemed to be the 
ruhng passion of his heart. Shortly after the season alluded to, he be- 
came . connected with the Allen Street Church, but he continued to 
manifest the same characteristic zeal and devotedness. 

" He was eminently a lover of revivals, and delighted to dwell in the 
midst of their solemn and impressive scenes. Nothing, caused his coun- 
tenance to glow, and his bosom to heave with such emotion, as to know 
that the Lord was pouring out his Spirit. Many in that church can 
bear witness to the untiring faithfulness with which he labored in such 
scenes there ; to the manner in which he visited inquiring souls, from 
house to house ; the pains and patience with which he opened to thenri 
the plan of salvation, and the affecting pathos with which he be- 
sought them to be reconciled to God. The meeting which, during 
seasons of revival, was regularly appointed in that church, to converse 
with those who were the subjects of the Spirit's striving, was a place 
of his delight, and one which, to him, seemed to have in it something 
of the sweetness of heaven. In his faithful attendance upon it he was 
a bright example. If hi health, the stroke of the bell was not more 
true in calling us together than the tread of his foot when the time ar- 
rived. He excelled in the treatment of souls. His discriminating 
mind, his great knowledge of the Scriptures, his deep religious experi- 
ence, his condescending manners and tender flow of feeling, qualified 
him for it, and gave liim great influence with them ; and the seals of 
his labors in this interesting department of Christian duty are not a 
few. Under God, he turned many to righteousness. 

" One other department of his useful labors was the Bible class. In 
this he was . constantly engaged through many years of his life. His 
habit was to meet his class regularly t-wice every Sabbath ; and here 
he applied his extensive biblical resources with great effect. He could 
shed hght upon many portions of Scripture where common instructors 
would be utterly at a loss. He was- faithful and successful ; and from 
no other source, no larger, did the communion of the church receive so 
frequent accessions as from his Bible class. 

" It now remains that we give some account of his last illness and 
death. His intercourse with his friends, during his sickness, was strictly 
characteristic and affectionate. He expressed a lively interest in them 
aU, and requited their attentions with the warmest acknowledgments. 



424 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

On various occasions his solicitude was manifested for his family, the 
church with which he was connected, for particular individuals, and 
the interests of the Church at large. As his strength failed, and the 
prospect of his recovery became more uncertain, his thoughts dwelt 
more on death and eternity ; and when speaking on these subjects, he 
uniformly expressed an entire and cordial acquiescence in the Divine 
will, and high satisfaction that whatever took place, in respect to him, 
it would not be the result of blind, undesigning chance, but be ordered 
by infinite wisdom and goodness. His Christian hope was never ob- 
scured at all, but, as often as the inquiry was made, he said he enjoyed 
the light of God's countenance, and his soul was at peace. A few days 
before his death, when the hope of his recovery grew faint, he desired 
an interview with his late pastor. That interview was an interesting 
one, and in substance as follows : He said that, in view of the in- 
creasing uncertainty whether he should recover, he wished to examine 
his hope, and see whether it were well founded or not ; and for this 
reason he had requested the conversation. He was asked if this desire 
arose from any darkness of mind, or any reason he had to fear his hope 
was not good. He answered, there was no change in that respect ; 
but that he viewed himself as probably approaching a very solemn 
hour, and that he should be remiss in his duty to himself if he did not 
re-examine his title to the kingdom of heaven. On being told that this 
was proper, and that it was a matter of gratification that there was no 
other reason for his doing it, he proceeded, and with a mind perfectly 
collected and clear, gave his views of the way of salvation through 
Christ, and the reasons he had for believing himself interested in it. 
He said that all within himself appeared worthless and polluted ; he 
had no confidence in any thing he had ever done ; he viewed himself 
as a poor helpless sinner, and, if saved, must be saved by grace only ; 
but that he looked upon the blood of Christ as having power to cleanse 
from all sin ; his hope was wholly in him ; that he felt sure he hated 
sin and loved holiness, and longed after nothing so much as spotless 
purity, an unvarying conformity to the Divine image. After having 
said much more of similar import, he ceased ; and it was stated to him, 
that if such were his views and such his experience, there could be no 
room for mistake ; that there was no Savior but Christ — no other ob- 
ject for the sinner's faith ; and that, if his trust was in Him, his anchor- 
hold was firm ; and that it seemed to be his duty and privilege to rest 
secure, and let no temptation awaken a suspicion or excite a trouble in 
his soul about his safety. In this he acquiesced, and added, ' My 
faith STANDS, not in the ivord of 7nan, but in the Word of God.' And 
it is believed that from that time he never expressed anxiety about him- 
self, but calmly, and with heavenly resignation, awaited the Divine will. 



APPENDIX. 



425 



" Two da)^s before the termination of his earthly trials — apprehend- 
ing that the event might be sooner than it was — his medical attendants 
advised that he be informed that they had done what they could, that 
he was in the hands of the Lord alone, and that, if he had any thing to 
do, or wished to say any thing to his friends, it might be expedient not 
to delay. This communication was plainly and affectionately made 
to him. He listened to it with serious attention, and without any ap- 
parent increase of emotion ; and after it was made, as was usual for 
him, he expressed his thankfulness that it had been done. He was 
asked if it had surprised him at all ; he answered, it had not. Then, 
after pausing a few moments, as if engaged in prayer, he called the 
members of his family severally to him, and when they were all to- 
gether, in the most feeling terms he addressed them to the following 
ejSect : ' My children, you here see what remains of your father. Now 
that I am dying, I wish to leave behind me my testimony that I die 
in the faith of that Gospel by which I have professed to live ; and 
though my failings have been many, I have endeavored, in accordance 
with the Gospel, to bring you up in the nurture and admonition of tHe 
Lord. If I know what religion is, it is simply this : we are all sinners, 
and therefore without hope in ourselves ; but God has laid help for us 
upon one that is mighty to save ; he has sent his only and well-beloved 
Son into the world, that through his death we might have life. And 
" other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus 
Christ ;" " for there is none other name given under heaven, among 
men, whereby we must be saved." Embrace this Savior, and you are 
safe. Do it now, while you have a day of mercy, and while you enjoy 
health and strength ; for I assure you that sickness is a bad time to 
seek an interest in Christ — a sick bed is no good place to make prepa- 
ration for death.' He then most tenderly charged them ' to be faithful 
to each other and to their dear mother, who had been like a minister- 
ing angel to him during his sickness ;' and in closing, in a truly sublime 
manner elevating his eyes, he said, ' I know that if my earthly home 
of this tabernacle were dissolved, I have a building of God, a house 
Tvot made with hands, eternal in the heavens? " 

Address of the President, Hon. John Cotton Smith. 
" My respected Friends, 
" There are few occasions more impressive than the annual meetings 
of this society ; for no institution of human origin can be more sacred 
in its object, or more benign in its influence on the happiness and the 
hopes of men. To be constituted almoners of God's richest gift to our 
race ; to be enabled by his bounty to offer the wandering and lost pil- 
grim a sure guide to his final home, cheering his way thither with the 



426 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



purest joys and the brightest anticipations, is a privilege and a distinc- 
tion for which we should render our most humble and grateful adora- 
tion. In view of the Divine beneficence toward the American people, 
it would become them to adopt the language of the shepherd-king of 
Israel, when contemplating his elevation from the sheepfold to a throne, 
'What am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast 
brought me hitherto I' Who, at the period of our revolution, and some of 
us have a distinct remembrance of its soul-stirring scenes, who, I repeat, 
could have imagined that this young country, then bleeding at every, 
pore, would so soon not only attain to her present height of worldly 
greatness, but would also exhibit the phenomenon of sending the Bible 
to the Old World I yea, of sending the light of divine truth to the 
region whence it first emanated, the sacred ground where the Redeemer 
revealed his mission of love and sealed it with his blood I to countries 
visited and taught by his apostles ; to Persia and India, and those far- 
distant islands, where the transforming power of this wonderful book is 
at the present moment exciting universal astonishment ! Nor have our 
aborigines, and Africa, and even civilized Europe, been wholly over- 
looked in this broad scheme of Christian philanthropy. If a review of 
these transactions may justly produce a virtuous exultation, we must 
look for its legitimate effect in corresponding exertions to meet the mul- 
tiplied appeals to our benevolence from, these and other destitute por- 
tions of the globe. The increasing demand for the Holy Scriptures 
affords exhilarating evidence of the successful progress of truth, and of 
the zeal and faithfulness of the excellent men who are employed in its 
promulgation. To us these soldiers of the cross confidently look for 
their spiritual armor, for that mysterious woud which is at once ' the 
sword of the Spirit' and ' the balm' of heavenly consolation. Shall 
they look in vain ? Shall their drafts upon yonr board be dishon 
ored ? W^ill the friends of the Bible faint and tire in its cause ? Never, 
while there shall be found on earth one desolate heart to ask for the 
Word of Life, or one empty hand extended to receive it I 

" In furtherance of the enterprise in which we are engaged, your 
Board of Managers haA'-e rendered an essential service by a careful colla- 
tion of their authorized copy of the sacred text M'ith a/ac simile of our 
unrivaled version, as it came from the hands of the translators, and 
with numerous intervening copies of different dates in the society's 
library. The task was arduous, but the gentlemen who achieved it 
felt themselves abundantly rewarded by the high gratification of find- 
ing no material departure from the genuine copy — nothing more, indeed, 
than discrepancies in punctuation, and other particulars equally unim- 
portant. With augmented confidence, therefore, have the board recom- 
mended the English version as the model to all who, under our auspices, 



APPENDIX. 427 

are translating the Bible into other languages. Nor have they scrupled 
to give their unqualified sanction to the course pursued by our trans- 
lators in adopting, or, as it is called, tran?.ferring the original word 
wherever an equivalent term can not be found in the foreign tongue. 
And a perfect coincidence of this kind can scarcely be expected in any 
supposable case. It certainly did not exist between the two most copi- 
.ous and polished languages of pagan antiquity. The Greek and Latin 
tongues reciprocated transfers in repeated instances. When the early 
Christian fathers rendered the original Greek of the New Testament 
into Latin, they found it necessary to adopt and Latinize the most im- 
portant of the identical words which, from the same necessity, were 
subsequently adopted and Anglicized by our translators. On the other 
hand, when the Roman laws were translated into Greek for the use of 
the Oriental empire, the learned jurists of the imperial courts employed 
in that service found many cases in which the whole Greek vocabulary 
was utterly inadequate to a just expression of the meaning of the 
original. What was to be done ? Without hesitation, and ' without 
regard to Attic elegance,' they transferred the original term itseli, 
barely giving to the Latin Avord the sonorous termination of their own 
more musical language. And what course can be more unexception- 
able ? What more equitable, especially in cases where a diversity of 
construction may possibly arise ? What thanks are due to a superin- 
tending Providence for thus allowing a perfect freedom of interpreta- 
tion to every section of the Christian Church ! 

" But in extending our views to distant nations, let us not lose sight 
of our own. From the rapid increase of our native population, as well 
as from foreign accessions, many families in almost every part of our 
country must now be destitute of a Bible. To whom shall this im- 
portant department be confided ? If our American youth generally 
would emulate the noble spirit of the young men in this city, the work, 
we have reason to believe, might be speedily accomplished. It is wor- 
thy of particular notice, that, of numerous auxiliaries, if many have 
equaled, no one has exceeded the ' Young Men's Bible Society' here 
in generous and wisely-directed measures to promote the great objects 
of the parent institution. This is, indeed, to ' remember their Creator' 
in its appropriate and most affecting sense, in a way to insure blessings 
not less invaluable to themselves than to the recipients of their bounty. 
It is cheering to observe that the youth of some other cities are copy- 
ing, with commendable zeal, this bright example. Should it be fol- 
lowed throughout the republic, Avho can estimate its auspicious bearing 
on the destinies of this nation I With what transport would the dying 
patriot resign .his countiy into the hands of a generation who shall 
have consecrated the morning of life to so glorious a purpose I 



428 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" While with grateful hearts we recognize the smiles of Heaven 
upon the operations of the board during the past year, we deeply feel 
the afflictive dispensations of a holy Providence in removing by death 
the vice-presidents Bolton and Van Rensselaer since the last anniver- 
sary. The former, a highly respected citizen, had sustained the office 
from the first organization of the society ; and, after his removal from 
Georgia to this city, he was punctual in his attendance at the Board 
of Managers, where his faithful services will be long and aiFectionately 
remembered. The gentleman last named has left testimonials of his 
worth too numerous and distinguished to require the tribute of my 
humble eulogy. Still, it is due to private friendship to say, that from 
the commencement of our acquaintance in early youth to his lamented 
departure, I have regarded his career with unmingled admiration. 
Who, in truth, has not admired the proofs of his cultivated and well- 
balanced mind, his superiority to the blandishments of fortune, the dig- 
nified simphcity of his demeanor, his elevated and straight-forward 
course as a statesman, his humble and exemplary walk as a Christian, 
the monuments, on all sides, of his public munificence, and, what is 
more, the gentle flow of that heaven-born charity which, with the si- 
lence of the dew, he shed on the cottage of the widow and the father- 
less, and upon ' him that had no helper !' Surely his record and his 
reward are on high ! 

" During the same period, also, we have been called to mourn the 
demise of the venerable Boyd, an active and useful member of the 
board from its earliest establishment, and Avhose virtuous life has afibrd- 
ed a well-founded hope of a blessed immortality. Would that I might 
here have closed this sad obituary ; but we who have beheld in the 
late president of the Wesleyan University the steadfast friend and pa- 
tron of this society, and have felt the power of his eloquence at our an- 
nual celebrations, must be indulged in the expression of unfeigned sor- 
row at the early termination of his valuable life ; a life eminently de- 
voted to the advancement of religion and sound learning — in a word, 
to the best and highest interests of his fellow-men. Short as has been 
his pilgrimage, lasting will be the memorials of his extended useful- 
ness ; and although his voice shall no more be heard with delight in 
an earthly temple, we trust it is attuned to more exalted strains in the 
paradise above. 

" Since such, my brethren and friends, are the consolations under 
sore bereavements which are derived from the precious volume we pro- 
fess to circulate, let our sympathies be alive to the dark and hopeless 
condition of the many millions of the human race upon whom the Sun 
of Righteousness has never risen with healing in his beams." 



APPENDIX. 429 

Sketch of the Life of Getieral Van Rensselaer, by Dr. Vermilye. 

" The Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer was the Uneal descendant of one 
of our oldest families, who, at the earliest settlement of the country, ob- 
tained from the Dutch government the grant of the manor of Pwensse- 
laerwyck, which was subsequently confirmed, under the English, by 
letters patent from James II., in 1685, and again in 1704, during the 
reign of Queen Anne. He was born in the city of New York, on the 
first day of November, 1764, and, consequently, was in his 75th year 
at the time of his decease. 

" He received the rudiments of his education first at a day school in 
this city, and then at Elizabethtown, N. J. He was afterward at the 
Kingston Academy, where commenced his acquaintance with the la- 
mented Abraham Van Vechten, which ripened into a warm, confiding 
intimacy, and survived in all its strength until the recent death of his 
friend. From the academy, he was placed by his mother, ever anx- 
ious for his religious welfare, under the charge of the Rev. Dr. With- 
erspoon, whom he accompanied on horseback from this place to Prince- 
ton, part of the distance with an escort provided by General Wash- 
ington, by whom they had been hospitably entertained at West Point. 
After a year or two of preparatory study, he entered Nassau Hall, but 
subsequently removed to Cambridge, where he graduated in 1782. 
His public career commenced in 1789, when he was chosen to the As- 
sembly of this state. He was next in the Senate, and in 1795, at the 
age of thirty-one, became its presiding officer in the capacity of lieu- 
tenant governor, which station he held for six years. From 1800 to 
1820 he was frequently in the Assembly ; was a member of two differ- 
ent state conventions, called to explain and revise the Constitution ; 
and for several years occupied a seat in the Congress of the United 
States. He was among the earliest and most ardent friends of intern- 
al improvements throughout the state. In 1810 he was appointed 
one of the State Commissioners, and for the last fourteen years of his 
life was President of the Canal Board. He was, at the same time, the 
Chancellor of the University of New York. 

" He was a man of remarkable humility, connected with a striking 
simplicity in all his tastes and habits. The ' ornament of a meek and 
quiet spirit' seemed to shed its mild and softened light over his whole 
person, and appeared in all the intercourse of life. There were no arts 
to attract observation, there was not the slightest assertion of superior- 
ity, no elaboration of manners ; nor could there be detected the small- 
est propensity to exact deference to his rank or will, which, however, 
all most cheerfully paid to his goodness. Indeed, any thing like pride, 
or haughtiness, or ostentation, in regard to himself or any thing per- 



430 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

taming to him, he was the farthest from manifesting, and evidently 
from feehng, of any human being I have ever known. Born to an al- 
most princely inheritance, while he observed what seemed to be re- 
quired from his affluence and station, he was yet moderate and even 
self-denying in personal indulgence. At the same time, the record of 
his liberality, a liberality amounting almost to profusion, may be read 
throughout the land, in the many churches of different denominations, 
in the institutions of learning of various kinds, in works of public util- 
ity, and on the lists of our various benevolent and religious societies he 
has aided. Of many of these last, he was among the very foremost to 
suggest the plans, and the most ready to supply the means. An enu- 
meration of those with which he has long stood in honored and useful 
connection would embrace not only the most prominent, but a large 
share of the whole ; for so well was his disposition known, that he was 
always remembered when any appeal was to be made to the public. 
Nor did his benevolence stop here, but diffused itself abroad, descending 
by a thousand silent streams to the firesides of the poor and destitute. 
" ' He had a tear for pity, and a hand 
Open as day for melting charity.' 

And even to the last this hallowed flame burned brightly. He felt 
the force of the Savior's words, ' The poor ye have always with you.' 
Within two days of his decease, and while confined to his sick cham- 
ber, he sent for his agent, and said to him, ' It is very cold I How the 
poor must suffer ! Go round and see if there are any that want, and 
give them what they need.' It was like the good old man. And 
while a whole community utters its loud lament, from the widow and 
fatherless, in the habitations of indigence and sorrow, among the chil- 
dren of bereavement and wo, many a silent tear will fall, sacred to the 
memory of Stephen Van Rensselaer. 

"He became a professor of refigion in connection with this church, 
on the second day of May, 1787, and for more than fifty years has he 
exemplified its doctrines. The views of truth he adopted were those 
usually denominated Calvinistic. Though there was no tendency to 
speculation, and nothing disputatious in the maintenance of his opin- 
ions — though, indeed, his mind revolted from every thing of the kind, 
and he regarded the confusions and conflicts such a temper has engen- 
dered with the utmost pain — yet experience, reflection, and a con- 
stantly increasing intimacy with his Bible had served to confirm his 
sentiments, to which he uniformly adhered v/ith full conviction. Of 
the entire depravity of his nature, his utter unworthiness, he was fully 
persuaded. While he regarded his last severe visitations as fatherly 
inflictions, sent in mercy to his soul, and even demanding his gratitude, 
and would often say with deep emotion, ' I thank thee. Lord, for wean- 



APPENDIX. 431 

ing me from the world I' * Oh I how shall I be sufficiently grateful !' 
while he evinced the most submissive patience in his suffering old age, 
and not a murmur was heard to escape his lips, but with a sweet con- 
fidence in God he would employ the expression, ' Not my will, but thine 
be done,' yet he also felt them to be deserved by him as a sinner. 

■' He had been for a long period, and continued almost to the hour 
of his departure, an attentive and diligent reader of the Bible. That 
blessed volume was often in his hand, and thus became graven on his 
heart. So uniform was his habit in this respect, that a member of 
his family has remarked to me, ' He read his Bible more regularly and 
constantly than any person I ever knew. He was accustomed to read 
it early in the morning, and by candle-light in the winter, for an hour 
or two at a time. Not a year passed that his Bible was not read 
through.' In his sick chamber it was his constant companion. 

" His death answered with a singular correspondence to the tenor of 
his life. He had long stood ready. With patriarchal simplicity, he 
observed, but a few days previously, as if anticipating the event to be 
near at hand, ' I wish I might once more gather all my children around 
rae, to bless them before I die, and tell them how good God has been 
to me.' That wish was denied, but his name and his virtues remain 
to bless them. 

" On the morning of the day on which he was taken to his rest, he 
had read from ' Jay's Exercises,' according to his custom, a meditation 
on death, and had marked the book for his Sabbath morning's devotion, 
at a beautiful description of the bhss of heaven, from the passage, ' The 
inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.' Instead of reading, he was per- 
mitted to go and enjoy the reality. He expired suddenly on Saturday 
afternoon, January 26. Having been seized with coughing, he rose to 
obtain some relief, and the difficulty seeming to increase, he said to a 
son who was with him, ' Can this be dying ?' He regained his chair, 
and while his family collected round and were hanging over him, his 
spirit was released so quietly that the moment was unperceived by 
them." 

Letter from the Hon. John Quincy Adams. 

" Washington, May 3, 1833. 
" Dear Sm, 
" I have received your letter of the 28th ult., inviting my attendance 
at the anniversary meeting of the American Bible Society on the 10th 
instant, at New York. 

" I regret that my engagements here v/ill not admit of my compli- 
ance with this invitation ; but I pray you to assure the society of the 
sincerity with which I have sympathized with their affliction in the 

Bb 



432 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

loss of two of their most distinguished members, the late president, Col- 
onel Richard Varick, and his venerable associate of the revolutionary 
war. Colonel Robert Troup. 

" I offer also to the society my cordial congratulation upon their 
prosperous condition and prospects, and upon the choice of the emiiient 
citizen whom they have elected as the successor of Colonel Varick. 

" I am, with great respect, dear sir, your friend and fellow-citizen, 

" J. Q. Adams." 

Letter from J. J. Ghirney, of the Society of Frie7ids. 

" Philadelphia, Uh month, 2^d, 1839. 
" Dear Friend, 
" I hope I shall not have put thee to inconvenience by not having 
before answered thy obliging letter, but the pressure on my time and 
mind of our late yearly meeting here must plead my excuse. 

" As far as I can look forward in such matters, I have reason to be- 
lieve that, at the time of your approaching anniversary of the Bible 
Society, my religious engagements will be occupying me at a long dis- 
tance from New York, so that it will not be in my power to be pres- 
ent with you on that occasion. I do, however, feel deeply interested 
in the objects of the society, and heartily crave its continued and in- 
creased prosperity. I hope the committee will accept $100 as a token 
of my attachment to the cause. 

" And am thy sincere friend, J. J. Gurney." 

Letter from Bishop Waugh. 

"Baltimore, March 6, 1841. 
" Rev. Messrs. J. C. Brigham and E. S. Jaties : 

" Brethren, 
" In August last I received your communication requesting me to 
act as the delegate of the American Bible Society, to present it to the 
Annual Conferences of the Methodist Episcopal Church falling under 
my immediate oversight the past year. Such were the engrossing du- 
ties of my visitation to these Conferences, that I could not allow my- 
self formally to accept the additional trust of your appointment. But, 
considering the importance and value of your noble institution as a 
powerful agency in the conversion of the world to God, it afforded the 
greatest pleasure to present its claims to the most favorable regards of 
my fellow-laborers in the Christian ministry. I did, therefore, intro- 
duce it to the notice of the Pv-ock Pviver, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and 
Texas Conferences. It is gratifying to me to be able to say that these 
Conferences manifested a deep interest in the prosperity of the Amer- 
ican Bible Society, and with entire unanimity adopted resolutions ex- 



APPENDIX. 433 

pressive of their high regard for it. I can not but hope, reverend breth- 
ren, it will be found that the interest felt will be showed as well in 
action as in profession. In Texas, a country of great prospective im- 
portance, there had been formed an independent Bible society previ- 
ously to the organization of the Texas Conference. One of the resolu- 
tions of this Conference requested that society to become auxiliary to 
the American Bible Society, and I entertain no doubt that this will be 
done. Although, for the present, most of the section of our country 
through which my route passed may exhibit only a moderate action on 
this Christian enterprise, yet the day is not far distant when its bear- 
ing will be lofty and commanding. The Valley of the Mississippi will 
never prove recreant to this fundamental principle, ' That the Bible, 
and the Bible only, is the rehgion of the Protestant.' I am persuaded, 
also, that Texas will, in due time, be found assuming her proper place 
in the great cause of Protestant Christianity^ as she is now doing in the 
cause of civil and political independence. Accept, brethren, the ex- 
pression of my ardent desire that your excellent institution may prosper 
more and more, until the whole earth shall have been enlightened and 
converted to God through Jesus Christ. 

" Respectfully and affectionately, B. Waugh." 

Letter from the Hon. John M'Lean. , 

"Washington, March 9, 1846. 
•'* Dear Sir, 

" Your letter of the 6th instant, informing me that the Board of 
Managers of the American Bible Society have elected me as their 
President, has been received. I feel most sensibly this distinguished 
evidence of the respect and confidence of the board, which was as un- 
expected as it was unmerited. 

" Separated as this Bible association is from all sectarian principles 
and aims, and extended as its means and operations have become, it is 
a most powerful agent for good. 

" The eminent individuals who have presided over the institution 
have contributed to give it a permanency and success which insure its 
rapid advance for the future. The identification of my name with so 
noble an enterprise could add nothing to its character or usefulness; 
and I therefore feel the less reluctance in saying that my pubhc duties, 
in regard to the time and place of their performance, are incompatible 
■v\dth those which appertain to the presidency of the society. 

" My Circuit Courts, which I am required to attend in four states, 
commence in May, annually, and engage my time, with short intervals, 
up to the period when I am obliged to leave the West to attend the 
Supreme Court at Washington. 

E E 



434 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



" You will perceive, therefore, that it will not be in my power to 
attend the meetings of the society, and that the office, under such cir- 
cumstances, if accepted, would be merely nominal. 

•■' I beg, therefore, most respectfully to decline the appointment, and 
to ask the board, through you, to accept of my profound gratitude for 
the honor they have done me. 

*' With great respect, I am, dear sir, your obedient servant, 

" John M'Lean. 
"Rev. J. C. Brigham, D.D., Corres. Sec. of the Amer. Bible Soc.'^ 

Death of Count Ver Huell. 

" Paris, November 28, 1845. 

" To the President of the American Bible Society, N. Y.: 
" Mr. President, 

'• We are called upon to perform a mournful duty in announcing to 
you the serious loss which our society has sustained in the demise, on 
the 29th ultimo, of our worthy president. Count Vice Admiral Ver 
Huell, at an advanced age. You are aware with what devotion he 
committed himself, for many of his latter years, to the cause of religion, 
a cause which he served because he loved it, and desired ardently to 
see spread throughout the world what he had experienced of its power 
in his own heart. 

"After we had lost our first president in the person of the learned 
Stapfer, our society felt itself happy, in 1840, in being able to call Ad- 
miral Ver Huell to be his successor. He said himself of his predecessor, 
in rendering homage to his memory at a public meeting of the society 
which was called, ' We know, alas I that our friend is gone ; we know 
that he is already with his Savior in the celestial country.' These 
words we are able to-day to repeat with confidence in relation to him 
who then uttered them, and it is consoling to repeat them in connec- 
tion with our great loss. 

" Admiral Ver Huell felt a lively sympathy in the great and gener- 
ous operations of Bible societies abroad, and particularly in that over 
which you are called to preside. More than once, on public occasions, 
he spoke of it, and rendered to it that tribute of respect which is due. 
Permit us to say in this place, if our society has lost a worthy presi- 
dent, yours has lost in him a true friend. And while we would not 
anticipate too confidently their views, we are persuaded your honorable 
board will in a measure share with us in the loss, and sympathize with 
us in our grief. 

" Please accept, Mr. President, the assurance of our high considera- 
tion. 

" For the Committee, Count Jules de Laborde " 



APPENDIX. 435 

Note. — The president of the American Bible Society, Governor 
Smith, to whom the above letter was directed, expired on the 7th of 
December, while the above letter was on its way. 

Co-operation of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

" Rev. Dr. Pierce, from the committee to whom the subject had 
been referred, made the following report, which was unanimously 
adopted, and ordered to be printed. 

" The committee to whom the claims of the American Bible Society 
were referred beg leave to report, 

" That this noble institution commends itself to the confidence and 
liberal support of the Church and country, whether we regard the 
benevolence of the design, the fidelity of its management, or the success 
of its operations. The committee can not enumerate all the reasons 
which justify our countenance and co-operation, or, indeed, elaborate the 
details of any, but will present three considerations, in their judgment 
ample both as to authority and encouragement. 

" First, the unremitted efforts of the society to place a copy of the 
Holy Bible in the hands of every man, woman, and child in our own 
country, in the shortest time possible, demands our concurrence in so 
vast a work. This design has been zealously carried out by the parent 
association through its auxiliaries, and by its own direct action, which, 
like the heart in the animal economy, is the great propelling power, 
producing and promoting a healthful circulation. The obligation to 
become co-laborers in this enterprise of supplying all classes of our 
rapidly increasing population with the Scriptures of truth can be 
measured only by the value of the Bible in a government where vice 
tends to destroy the only life-preserving element in its structure, and 
virtue to nourish and perpetuate it. 

" This vital principle is morahty, religion — that religion which de- 
rives its existence from God, and finds the rule of its faith and practice 
in the inspired Volume. It should never be forgotten by an American 
citizen that there is not, perhaps, in the wide world, another nation 
made up of so great a variety of human beings as may be found in these 
United States. 

" The ports of our country are open for free admission of emigrants 
firom all parts of the earth. No jealous or watchful policy of political 
quarantine has ever authorized or delayed the entrance of the stranger 
and foreigner among us. This state of things must introduce into our 
midst an evil leaven, for which government can provide no antidote. 
For when a man steps upon our shores, he intrenches himself behind 
the Constitution and laws of the land, and triumphantly asserts his 
freedom of opinion. And if he has his mind and prejudices trained, in 



436 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

politics and religion, to the belief of doctrines, the adoption of which in 
this land would lead to the defense of the wildest agrarianism -on the 
one hand, or the most diabolical atheism on the other, our people have 
no alternative but to stand by, mournfully gazing upon the work of 
dilapidation, or to forestall this disastrous agency by impregnating the 
public mind with the truth of revelation. 

" It must be apparent to every reflecting mind, that while the knowl- 
edge of the Bible is salutary under any form of civil government, it is 
indispensable to the purity and perpetuity of our own. And by how 
much less the laws of the land may interfere to prevent the sad effects 
of a misguided and abused freedom, by so much more it is our duty 
and interest to encourage the circulation of the Holy Scriptures among 
all classes of our citizens. 

" The restraints which a belief of the threatened judgments of Heaven 
impose upon man in the civil, social, and moral relations of life, are 
neither few nor feeble, albeit they may not be effectual for regenera- 
tion and salvation. To the Bible, then, and the strong moral suasion 
which may be drawn from its momentous truths, must we go, and 
upon their modifying, restraining, and purifying influence we rely for 
the salvation of our country — for the nation's safety is to be found in 
the nation's purity. 

" The claims of the American Bible Society are vindicated, and 
ought to be endeared to every lover of ' the sincere milk of the Word,' 
by that constitutional law which restricts the work of publication to 
the Bible without note or comment, and by the faithfulness with which 
they have adhered to this avowed purpose ; for, while it may be ad- 
mitted that some inaccuracies are to be found in the English version 
commonly used, it may be doubted whether an entire new translation 
would not multiply rather than diminish errors. The plenary inspira- 
tion of the sacred writers would become a useless benefit to the world 
if modern criticism were allowed to mutilate the present venerable 
version, under the vain pretense of amendment, or accommodation to 
the fastidious caviler. 

" Indeed, it seems to us that if, in a few instances. King James's 
translators had transferred rather than translated a word, it must have 
been because the simple translation of that particular Avord into a spe- 
cific, definite term, would have incurred the danger of leading the 
mind into a greater error than could follow upon a transfer of that 
word to the Enghsh language ; for by such transfer is to be understood 
merely using the letters of our own alphabet in place of the Greek, in 
bringing that word into an English edition of the Old and New Test- 
ament. 

" If the above view is correct, it will be seen at once how much the 



APPENDIX. 437 

American Bible Society did for the cause of truth and justice when 
they refused to yield to the solicitation of a large and respectable 
Church to admit such a translation of a word as would narrow down 
the mind of a people in a foreign mission to a specific mode of baptism. 
No other reason could have operated upon the translators when they 
simply Anglicized the Greek word from which we derive our notions 
of Christian baptism, than that a translation would have reduced a re- 
ligious act to a religious mode, contrary to the analogy of faith. To 
give the Holy Scriptures any sectarian bearing by a new translation 
of them, or even a simple doctrinal term, would be both unwise and 
injurious : unwise, because a denomination seeking to give authority 
to their particular views by changing any word in the present author- 
ized version would only admit that such views are not well sustained 
without the change ; injurious, because it would mar the unity of the 
word, unsettle the foundations of confidence, and afford to infidelity the 
benefit of denying, on plausible grounds, the purity of the Bible as a 
divine rule of faith and practice. 

" Finally, your committee would offer as a reason why the Amer- 
ican Bible Society should be liberally patronized, the very low price to 
which they have reduced Bibles and Testaments, and, consequently, 
the almost illimitable good they have enabled the benevolent to do at 
a very small cost. For twenty-five cents a donor may put an entire 
copy of the Bible into the hands of the forlorn and ignorant poor, and 
for six and a quarter cents give to some hapless orphan the New Test- 
ament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To the wisdom and zeal 
of this association is the country indebted for the present low prices at 
which Bibles of the finest material and workmanship may be obtained, 
but especially of such quality and price that the poor, yet not utterly 
destitute, may purchase. 

" It is, in truth, too manifest to be denied, and too precious to be for- 
gotten, that the price to which the blessed volume has been reduced 
has put thousands of copies into circulation which else had slumbered 
upon the shelves of book-stores unbought and unread. Nor will it be 
doubted that the simple reading of ' the law and the testimony' has 
been the instrumentality by which many have been brought to God 
and salvation. ' Every man,' saith Christ, * that hath heard and hath 
learned of the Father, cometh unto me.' 

" The entrance of the Divine Word giveth light. It hath a voice, 
too, to awaken and to charm, and as that voice peals in thunder along 
the solitude of a soul made dreary by the desolations of sin, conscience 
aroused echoes back the sound, till the guilty man, tremblino-, abashed 
and penitent, cries in the fullness of his grief, ' What shall I do to be 
saved V and then the still small voice whispers, ' Come unto me, all ye 



438 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Christ our 
Savior died to redeem us to God out of every kindred, and tongue, and 
people ; and the love of Christ should constrain us to do ' as much as 
in us is' to give to all earth's ransomed millions the only book, in this 
world of books, which pours the light of heaven upon the pathway of 
man, to his tomb and his eternity. Your committee offer the follow- 
ing resolutions for adoption : 

" Resolved, By the delegates of the Annual Conferences of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church South, in General Conference assembled, that 
we will heartily co-operate with the American Bible Society in the 
glorious work of giving the Bible to the whole world without delay. . 

" Resolved, That we will earnestly recommend the American Bible 
Society to all our people, and urge them to a more liberal support of 
the noble enterprise. 

" Resolved, That we believe the destitution of Bibles in our own 
states and territories is much greater than is generally supposed, and 
that the only plan of supply that will remove this great evil from 
among us is the one now practiced of carrying the Scriptures to every 
family, and knowing that all are supplied. 

''Resolved, That we recommend to all our Conference districts, cir- 
cuits, and stations, to aid in every way they can the speedy supply of 
the whole American people. 

" Respectfully submitted, L. Pierce, Chairman. 

"Petersburg, May 20, 1846," 

Address of the Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, LL.D., President of 
the American Bible Society. 

" By the good providence of God we are permitted to celebrate the 
thirty-second anniversary of the American Bible Society. Ever since 
its institution the world has been assuming new relations, and under- 
gone many and great changes ; and the past year, perhaps, more than 
any before, has been full of exciting and fearful interest. Events have 
followed each other that will form an instructive chapter in the history 
of mankind. Death has multiplied his victims from among illustrious 
names. War has rung his doleful notes through our valleys, and 
waked up the deadly passions of depraved nature. And nearer still in 
time, revolution has shaken the thrones of the mighty, and struck an 
appalling apprehension in the heart of every earthly potentate. It has 
made them feel, as they never did before, how frail are the foundations 
of power, and how vain the securities of political sagacity and forecast. 

" Amid all these momentous developments of Divine Providence, we 
may take refuge in the Bible. This not only prepares expectation for 
these overturnings, but consoles us, by the promised fruits of them all, 



APPENDIX. 



439 



in the certain accomplishment of God's gracious and glorious purposes, 
whether by works of mercy or of dreadful righteousness. 

" He sits at the head of these threatening floods, and on a throne 
whose dominions neither earth nor the powers of darkness can disturb. 
Happy for us that in the Word of God, the true exponent of his coun- 
sels, we may learn, and cause others to know how nations and men 
can best secure a defense against the assaults of violence, and best 
prepare for the inroads of change and decay. And while these com- 
motions have dealt so much of lamentation and woe, yet they wiU open 
the way for the wider circulation of the Scriptures, and spread more 
rapidly and extensively over the earth the only influences that can 
bring good out of these convulsions, and happily direct and compose the 
spirit that has caused them. 

"It is a free spirit that works beneath these political upheavings, 
deep, constant, and miquenchable. Power may for a long time cramp 
and stifle it, but can not long repress it. Its struggles are fearful, but 
they will at last triumph. And that same spirit will claim the right 
to look into God's Word for itself. 

" The Bible will be an open volume whenever the rights of man, as 
a rational and accountable being, are asserted and enjoyed. Let him 
come to feel, with an enlightened conviction, that he must answer for 
himself in the judgment of the great day, and he Avill search the Scrip- 
tures with deep and anxious earnestness, and all the more resolvedly 
should any question his privilege or attempt to interrupt its exercise. 

" Nations contending for freedom are in the pursuit of truth in one 
of its most interesting forms. They have learned that man's immortal 
nature is created, endowed, and designed for nobler ends than to become 
the mere tool of ambition and the make-weight of power. And the 
Bible in almost every page vindicates this exalted destiny, and labors 
to fix the deep conviction that man is born for liberty — the Uberty of 
truth and of laiv. 

" As the belief enters and forms within him, he rises in the scale of 
existence- — rises in his own estimation, not vain-gloriously, but the 
solemn consideration that he has within him a being for bhss or woe 
beyond measure and without end, exalts, while it subdues and humbles 
him ; his soul expands to the thoughts of his destiny ; and as he looks 
through the great scheme of redemption, and strives to gauge the price 
paid for his ransom, his free spirit swells from the chains that have 
bound it, and oppression, in all its forms, trembles before the demon- 
strations of his deliverance. 

" We stop not to look into the philosophy of the process, but we re- 
joice in the relation, and bless God for the close and constant connec- 
tion between civil and religious liberty — all history illustrates and con- 



440 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



firms it. Those communities enjoy the largest share of the one, are 
the best protected in their rights, and the most secure in their posses- 
sions, that faithfully cultivate and cherish the spirit and principles of 
the other. 

" Let us, then, amid the crumbling of thrones and the tumults of 
the people, take the consolation of the "Word of God, and there learn 
how the wildest uproar of the political elements holds relation to the 
certain fulfillment of his purposes, and final encouragement to animate 
us in this blessed Bible agency, ordained of God to heal the woes and 
to pacify the strifes that distress the nations." 

Death of the Hon. John Quincy Adams. 

" The committee appointed to prepare a suitable minute to be entered 
on the records of this board, on the occasion of the death of the Hon. 
John Quincy Adams, respectfully report, and recommend the adoption 
of the following resolutions : 

" Resolved, That the board enter upon their minutes the lamented 
death of John Quincy Adams, a vice-president of this society since the 
second year of its organization, who departed this life at the Capitol, in 
the city of Washington, on the twenty-third day of February, one 
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight. 

" Resolved, That while the several state Legislatures in session have 
vied with each other, and with the general government, in rendering 
homage to the memoiy of the illustrious patriot and statesman, who 
for more than half a century has borne so conspicuous a part in our 
national history, it is the grateful duty of this board to dwell upon other 
relations and features of his accomplished character. A man of the 
purest morals, he was the ardent friend of the Bible, esteeming it as 
the source of all civil and religious liberty, as well as of individual hap- 
piness. He was a diligent student of the Word of God. It was the 
delight of his great and discriminating mind to be daily refreshed at 
this fountain of Divine wisdom ; and it is our deliberate judgment, that 
not only the stern integrity of his private life, but his widely-extended 
influence as a ruler and legislator, an advocate of human rights, a pa- 
triot and philanthropist, is to be attributed to his long and intimate 
familiarity with the eternal laws of truth, love, and righteousness which 
are revealed in the Holy Scriptures. 

" Resolved, That we recognize the good hand of God in qualifying 
our departed friend for the enlarged sphere of usefulness in the world, 
which he occupied with surpassing ability ; that we tender our sympa- 
thies to his bereaved family, and that these resolutions be communi- 
cated to his widow and surviving son. 

" Horace Holden, Wm. Adams, Wm. H. Aspinwall. 

" April 6, 1848." 



APPENDIX. 



441 



To the above it may be added, that while this distinguished officer 
was prevented by pubhc duties from attending the annual meetings of 
the society, his frequent communications expressing his regret that he 
could not attend, and his gratification in the growth and usefulness of 
the institution, showed how deeply he participated in all that pertained 
to its welfare. 

Notices of the Death of the Rev. Noah Levings, D.D., late Financial 
Secretary of the Society. 

" Since the last meetmg of the Board of Managers, intelligence has 
been received of the death of the Rev. Noah Levings, D.D., financial 
secretary of the American Bible Society, at Cincimiati, Ohio, on the 
9th of January. Higlily appreciating, and entertaining a grateful re- 
membrance of his Christian and ministerial character, and most par- 
ticularly of his assiduous and successful labors in the cause of the soci- 
ety, the Board of Managers deem it appropriate to take a brief notice 
of his life and death. 

" Dr. Le^dngs Avas born in Westmoreland, Cheshire county, N. H., 
on the 29th of September, 1796. At the age of sixteen he removed 
with his parents to the city of Troy, in this state. He there became 
the subject of renewing grace under the ministry of the Rev. Laban. 
Clarke, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was brought to enter- 
tam the hope of the Gospel in 1815. On the 20th of December, 1817, 
he was licensed to preach; and in May, 1818, he was received into 
the New York Annual Conference. The estimation in which he was 
held by his brethren appears from the appointments he received and 
fiUed. He was twice stationed in Troy, once in Schenectady, once in 
New Haven, once in Brooklpi, twice in Albany, and twice in New 
York. He was twice elected a delegate to the General Conference, 
the highest judicatory in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He re- 
ceived the iionorary degree of doctor of divinity ; but his highest honor 
arose from the instrumentality with which he was owned by the Head 
of the Church in the conversion of hundreds ' from darkness to light, 
and from Satan to God.' 

" In June, 1844, he was chosen financial secretary of the American 
Bible Society, to succeed Bishop Janes. The fidelity with which he 
discharged the duties of this important office is well known to the 
board. He has, with dihgence, acceptableness, and efficiency, labored 
during the course of his official service; has visited different parts of 
our extended countiy, and succeeded in exciting greater interest and 
increased efforts in the Bible cause. He left on a Southern tour, on 
behalf of the society, on the 11th of October last, and visited the Ten- 
nessee, Memphis, and Mississippi Conferences of the Methodist Epis- 



442 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

copal Church South. During this tour he traveled nearly four thou- 
sand miles, preached eighteen sermons, and delivered nine addresses. 
On a portion of this route he was subject to much inconvenience, the 
weather being stormy and the roads bad. During the latter part of 
November he was taken ill ; but, obtaining temporary relief, he went 
forward till he arrived at Natchez, where he preached his last sermon, 
in the Presbyterian Church, on the 24th of December. Thence he took 
passage, on the steam-boat Memphis, for Cincinnati. He was eight 
days upon the boat, severely afflicted, without medical counsel, and al- 
most without attention. The cholera was on board, and Dr. Levings 
was suffered to He unnoticed, except by a single individual. At Cin- 
cinnati he was taken to the house of his friend. Dr. Burton. In his 
last sickness he enjoyed peace of mind. Passages in his diary exhibit 
his deep devotedness, and his conviction that his departure was at hand. 
On the Sabbath evening preceding his death, being asked if he felt a 
firm faith in Christ, he answered, ' Oh, yes ; the Lord Jesus is the 
strength of my heart, and my portion forever.' On one occasion, while 
sitting up, a Bible was placed, by his kind host, in such a position as 
to support his head, and enable him to breathe more freely. Fixing 
his eye on the Bible, he exclaimed, ' O thou blessed book ! lamp to my 
feet, and light to my path I thou guide of my youth, directory of my 
7nanhood, and support of my declining years ! hoiv cheerless ivould 
this world be, ivere it Twtfor thy divine revelations and Christian ex- 
perience V After his will was signed, he said, ' Thank God I one foot 
is in Jordan, and I shall soon cross over.' Bishop Morris arrived in 
town, and visited him. in the afternoon before his death. ' Thank 
God,' said he, ' that I am permitted to see your face in the flesh once 
more. I am not able to converse much, but can still say. Glory to 
God !' The bishop asked him if he had any message to send to his 
brethren of the New York Conference. * Tell them,' said he, ' that I 
die in the hope of the Gospel. Tell them I have an unshaken confi- 
dence in the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ as the founda- 
tion, and the only foundation, of my hope of eternal life. Relying on 
that foundation, all before me is light, and joyful, and glorious.' 

" With this brief reference to the life and death of Dr. Levings, the 
Board of Managers adopt the following resolutions : 

" Resolved, That this board have received with deep regret the in- 
telligence of the death of the Rev. Noah Levings, D.D., financial sec- 
retary of the American Bible Society, at Cincinnati, on the 9th of Jan- 
uary last. While they deplore the loss which the Church of Christ 
and the American Bible Society have sustained by his removal to the 
' rest which remaineth for the people of God,' they hold in grateful re- 
membrance his Christian character and life, now sealed by a peaceful 



APPENDIX. 443 

and blessed death, and appreciate his dihgent and efficient services as 
secretary of the so ciety. 

" Resolved, That a copy of this statement and resolution be trans- 
mitted to the widow and family of Dr. Levings, with the expression of 
the sympathy of this board with them m their bereavement, and of 
their prayers that they may richly enjoy the influence and consolation 
of that precious Word of God, the truths of which were so dear to him 
in Hfe and death, which were the theme of his Christian ministry, and 
for the difTusion of which he devoted the last years of his hfe as secre- 
tary of the American Bible Society." 

The Young Men's Bible Society of Cmcinnati, within whose limits 
this officer closed his life, paid a just and feeling tribute to his memory, 
as will be seen by the following letter and resolutions : 

" Cincinnati, January 13, 1849. 
" To the Cor. Sec. Am. Bible Soc., N. Y. : 

" Dear Sir, 
" In accordance with the directions of the Board of Managers of the 
Young Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati, it is my painful duty to 
transmit to you the accompanying resolutions, occasioned by the death 
of the Rev. Noah Levings, D.D., which occurred in this city on the 
evening of the 9th instant. 

" Deeply do I regret that my first official act, as corresponding secre- 
tary of this society, should be the communication of intelligence of so 
sad a nature. 

" In your report, presented in May, 1845, you announced the cora- 
m.encement of Dr. Levings's labors as the financial secretary of your 
board, bespeaking for him the cordial co-operations of the auxiliary 
societies ; in answer to that appeal, we announce to you that God has 
closed by death those labors, and return to you his lifeless remains, 

" Permit me to add my personal s}TnQpathy, to that expressed by the 
board, with you in the loss your society has sustained, and also with 
the bereaved family of the deceased, to whom you will have the kind- 
ness to send one of the copies of the resolutions inclosed. 
" Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

«' R. W. Burnett, Cor. Sec. Y. M. B. S." 

"Young Men's Bible Society Rooms, Cincinnati, Jan. 10, 1849. 

" At a special meeting of the Board of Managers of the Young 
Men's Bible Society of Cincinnati, held this day, the following resolu- 
tions were unanimously adopted, viz. : 

" Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to remove by death from 
our midst the Rev. Noah Levings, D.D., financial secretary of the 



444 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



American Bible Society, a venerable minister of God, whosa praise is 
in all the churches, and one whose life was deeply and laboriously de- 
voted to the cause of the Bible ; and who, in the prosecution of this 
noble work, has fallen a victim to death, far from his home and friends, 
in a land of strangers ; and whereas, in this event, this board can not 
but feel a deep and mournfiil interets, therefore 

" Resolved, That we deeply deplore, in this sad dispensation, the 
loss which is sustained by the American Bible Society in the death of 
one who, so far as human instrumentality is concerned, proved himself 
to be one of its brightest ornaments and most efficient supports. 

*' Resolved, That in the severe bereavement which has thus unex- 
pectedly fallen upon the family of our deceased brother, we sincerely 
offer in their behalf our prayers to God, whose wdse but inscrutable 
providence has taken him away ; and for ourselves, and in behalf of 
every lover of the Bible, we proffer them our Christian condolence. 

" Resolved, That this board meet at the Bible room to-morrow 
morning at the published hour, and proceed thence to attend the funer- 
al services of the deceased at Wesley Chapel, in this city. 

" Resolved, That copies of the foregoing resolutions be forwarded to 
the family of the deceased and to the parent board. 

" (Signed) E. M. Gregory, Pres. 

" Wm. Rankin, Sec. pro. tem'^ 

Notices of the Death of Alexander Henry, Esq., Peter G. Stuyve- 
sant, Esq., and John Aspmivall, Esq. 

" Among the vice-presidents deceased since the last anniversary, 
Alexander Henry, Esq., of Philadelphia, is the first to be noticed. His 
death, peaceful and full of hope, occurred on the 18th of August last. 
Being a resident of another city, he was able to have but little personal 
intercourse with the board. To some of the members, however, he 
was well known, and all were well aware of his elevated and pure 
character as a man of business and as a Christian in the city and re- 
gion where his lot was cast. His interest in this society was evinced 
not only by his conversation and occasional letters, but by generous 
contributions, w^hich were sure to come, unsolicited, at least once a 
year. The memory of such a man is precious. 

" But three days subsequent to the death of Mr. Henry occurred that 
of another vice-president, Peter G. Stuyvesant, Esq., of New York. 
The death of this officer, from the circumstance of his residence in this 
city, his long connection with the board, oftentimes its presiding officer, 
together with his frequent and liberal benefactions, and with the sud- 
denness of his removal, occasioned a shock which all here associated 
have deeply felt. A committee was appointed, consisting of the Hon. 



APPENDIX. 



445 



Theodore Frelinghuysen, the Hon. WiUiam Jay, with the Rev. Dr. 
De AVitt, to prepare a suitable notice of the loss which had been sus- 
tained, and to communicate the sympathies of the board to the family 
of the deceased. 

" In the month of October the managers were called to part with 
one of their own number, John Aspinwall, Esq., who, by his long and 
faithful services, and his kind, unassuming deportment, had gained the 
affections of all his associates." 



ANNIVERSARIES— ADDRESSES. 

The annual meetings of the society are held in the city of New York, 
on the second Thursday in May. 

The exercises consist in reading a portion of the Holy Scriptures, 
prayer, the annual address by the president, report of the treasurer, re- 
port of the corresponding secretary, and addresses by persons appointed 
by the Anniversary Committee for that purpose. 

In 1843 the society held a semi-annual meeting at Cincinnati, Ohio. 
The chair was occupied by the Hon. John M'Lean, of the Supreme 
Court of the United States. Addresses were delivered by the Rev. Drs. 
Spring, Beecher, and Tomlinson, and by the Rev. William Jackson. 

In 1 844 a similar meeting was held at Washington City. The 
chair was occupied by the Hon. J. Q. Adams, the first vice-president, 
assisted by Judge M'Lean and the Hon. Robert P. Dunlap. Addresses 
were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Berry, of Georgetown, D. C, the Hon. 
Mr. Howard, of Indiana, the Rev. Dr. Tyng, of Philadelphia, and Dr. 
Cox, of Brooklyn, L. I. 

In 1845 another semi-annual meeting was held at Richmond, Vir- 
ginia, in the hall of the General Assembly. His Excellency Governor 
M'Dowell presided, and made the opening- address. Other addresses 
were delivered by ministers and laymen of the different denominations, 
and also by the corresponding secretary. Dr. Brigham. 

One of the same description was subsequently held at Raleigh, North 
Carolina. The meeting was held in the House of Commons, many 
members of which were in attendance. The Hon. Judge Cameron, 
one of the earliest vice-presidents of the parent society, occupied the 
chair. Addresses were made by the presiding officer, by the Hon. 
Judge Potter, by Ex-governor Swain, and by Dr. Brigham, correspond- 
ing secretary. 

The following addresses and extracts have been taken from the many 
which, from time to time, have been delivered at the anniversaries. 
They have been selected on account of the topics discussed ; and as we 
could not publish all, v\'e have, without any reference whatever to ex- 



446 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

elusive merit, selected these. The addresses which have been deUvered 
at the different anniversaries are all of a high order, and no institution 
in the world has enjoyed the advocacy of more distinguished or talented 
men. 

The Use of the Scriptures as a Reading Book in Schools. By the 
Rev. Robert J. Breckinridge, D.D. 

Mr. Breckinridge observed that " there are certain great principles, 
certain fundamental ideas, which always are, and necessarily must be 
assumed as true, and even indisputable, in every enterprise, system, and 
organization which can exist among men. If it were not so, all prog- 
ress would be impossible ; and the commonest attempts to perform the 
most pressing duties might lead only to contention and embarrassment. 

" Thus, in the very fact of our organization as a society for the print- 
ing and distribution of the Scriptures, we have assumed as undeniable 
the great truths that the Bible is a divine revelation from God, that 
it is given for the whole human race, that it is most fit to be received 
by all, and that it is perfectly adapted to produce its intended effects ; 
nay, more, that it is our duty to make efforts for the multiplication, the 
dissemination, and the general reception of these Scriptures among 
men, and that our present form of action is one proper and wise mode 
of performing this sacred obligation. But even beyond this, we have, 
from the beginning, firmly advanced other great axioms of our system ; 
for we have agreed that this noble version shall be the only English 
translation which we, as a body, will print and circulate ; and that in 
every case, but especially in this, we will neither add nor permit note 
or comment on the sacred text. These principles constitute this society 
a Bible Society, in opposition to the notion of its being a society for 
making commentaries, glosses, or other like things ; they distinguish it 
as a Christian Bible Society, in contradistinction from all schemes that 
would make it virtually Jewish, by limiting its action to the Old Test- 
ament, or something little better, in restricting it chiefly or entirely to 
the New ; and they equally mark it out as a Bible Society of Reformed 
Christians, carrying out their distinctive views and faith in clear dis- 
tinction from the papistical doctrines touching the great questions, 
What is the Word of God ? and how, to whom, and for what purposes 
should it be distributed ? 

" It had been happy, both in other lands and in our own, if the friends 
of this great cause had always clearly marked these obvious truths, 
and respected the distinctions which flow from them. It will be useful 
to us, now that we are about to take a step in advance, and commit 
ourselves and this institution to a new principle, or, at least, to a new 
and most important aspect of certain principles not heretofore so fully 



APPENDIX. 



447 



developed, to keep steadily in our view the great truths from which we 
start, that our warrant and full justification may he ever before our 
eyes ; for that the successful prosecution of our work, and the openings 
which Providence spreads successively before our advancing steps, 
should require us to acknowledge these additional truths, or force 
upon us new aspects of duty, is what has again and again occurred 
to us, and what will hereafter occur, in proportion as we are atten- 
tive to God's dealings, and faithful to them. I understand the resolu- 
tion which has been this moment adopted, in regard to the duty im- 
posed on distributers of the Bible to secure, if possible, its faithful peru- 
sal also, to cover a case verj^^ much of this kind. And still more clear- 
ly, the one I stand here to advocate has this great advantage, that 
while it fully accords with the whole objects and principles of the so- 
ciety, it opens a vast and newly-unexplored field for its exertions. It 
is the beginning, as I trust, of a national effort, the first expression of 
a national purpose to restore in youth the dissevered connection between 
piety and knowledge, between God and the first search of childhood 
after mental treasures. 

" Perhaps the most striking aspect of my duty is, that its performance 
should ever have been needful, but especially in this country, and at 
the present moment. From the beginning of time till a period very 
near to us, and among the entire race of man, except only reformed 
Christians of these latter days, the general principle remotely occupy- 
ing the base of this subject has been cordially and universally received 
and acted on as of paramount importance. Every people, without ex- 
ception, has thought it necessary to teach its religion to its children, as 
the very basis of all other knowledge ; and every nation that has been 
sufficiently advanced to have a written religion, and places for the 
regular instruction of youth in knowledge, has made the national reli- 
gion a national study in childhood. The sacred books of all heathen 
nations have been known of all who knew any thing whatever. The 
pages of the Koran, in every age and coimtry, have been the first study 
of every follower of the false prophet. The very highest literature of 
all antiquity is thoroughly impregnated with the popular religion, so 
that every Greek and Roman youth was made a scholar and a pagan 
by the self-same process. The Hebrew parent, by the most express 
command of God, made his child from its very birth, by every outward 
mark and every inward accomplishment — at home, by the wayside, in 
the school, in the sanctuary, in the halls of justice, on the field of bat- 
tle, and upon the throne itself, thoroughly and intensely a Hebrew 
The early Christian Church was in no degree less assiduous in the same 
devotedness to the exact and universal religious instruction of the young. 
Every corrupt and apostate sect which has forsaken or renounced our 



448 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

divine Redeemer — and most conspicuously those who have most thor- 
oughly and openly rejected the Bible — has instilled each its own pecu- 
liar heresies by every means, not excluding their schools, into the minds 
of their children. The leaders of the glorious reformation of the six- 
teenth century, and for two centuries and more, all their true follow- 
ers, received as from God the solemn duty of the public as well as pri- 
vate instruction of the young in the Word of Life. The illustrious 
spirit of Luther, as he drew near his rest, in a review of his literary 
labors, rejoiced the most in this, that he had written his book Ve Servo 
Arbitrio against Erasmus, and had prepared his small catechism — a 
performance which, like the similar one of his immortal fellow-laborer, 
John Calvin, remains, each, after the lapse of three hundred years, 
respectively the symbol of churches, states, and races. Nay, until a 
period so little remote that many who hear me can recall it, the school- 
house and the church stood side by side throughout our country, and 
the Bible and the Catechism constituted in both the basis of perpetual 
instruction. 

"It is not my present duty to trace the causes and the manner of 
the exclusion of the Bible from our schools. It is sufficient to indicate, 
as the chiefe&t, the spirit of popery which every where suppresses the 
Word of God ; the spirit of indifierentism, which treats it with total 
slight ; and the spirit of infidelity, which openly rejects it. Other 
causes, less obvious, have no doubt conspired in the production of the 
same fatal result ; among which are perhaps to be ranked as of no 
small importance, the excessive multiplication of school-books of inferior 
quality, a proportionate increase of incompetent and unworthy teachers, 
and a general disposition to prostitute to unworthy ends that part of 
the education of youth which could be turned to immediate profit. 
Nor can it be denied that the system of Sabbath-school instruction, so 
valuable in itself, has been at least an occasion for this great evil ; that 
the public has been allowed — it may be, even induced to consider the 
moral instruction thus imparted a sufficient substitute for that formerly 
given in the week-day schools, if not, indeed, for that before received 
under the paternal roof. 

" A general review of the efforts which have been made in our day 
to restore the Bible to the schools would occupy far too much time to 
be now attempted ; although this, like the mode of its exclusion, is a 
portion of this great subject full of interest and importance. It may be 
sufficient to state in passing, that the minds of Christians over the 
whole world have been for some years deeply pondering this matter. 
Christian Protestant churches generally throughout Europe have made 
a more steadfast resistance than ourselves to the exclusion of the Bible 
from the course of general education, and are therefore, in this respect, 



APPENDIX. 449 

generally in a better condition than ourselves. In England there is no 
school system of sufficient extent to deserve the name of national, but 
the institution which has the oversight of what are called the national 
schools has introduced the Scriptures into them. The schools of 
Scotland, so far as they have been under the care of the national 
church of that kingdom, remain on their ancient model. In Ireland, 
a systematic attempt was recently made by a committee of the British 
House of Commons, which, in 1825, '26, and '27, carefully investigated 
the whole subject of Irish education, with a view to provide a general 
and thorough system of popular instruction. The result is given in 
nine reports, which, together, contain considerably more than three 
thousand printed pages in folio ; and the sum of all is, that the most 
ignorant and illiterate of all civilized states absolutely repudiated, by 
the high dignitaries of the papal church, every system of public, nay, 
even of gratuitous instruction, which should not, as a starting point, 
reject the Bible and admit the dogmas of popery. As it regards our 
own country, the only successful effort of a general kind with which I 
am acquainted had been lately made in the state of Maryland, where 
the admirable society which I represent this day are now in the midst 
of an attempt, which has been attended with the most cheering success. 
In the course of that movement, two facts, of great importance in them- 
selves, and strongly illustrative of the past and present spirit of the 
country, have been fully established. The first is, that the public 
mind is more thoroughly prepared for this great reform, and all the 
sources of public influence and authority much more accessible in re- 
gard to it, than the most sanguine had supposed ; that is, God has pre- 
pared the work to our hands before wc had faith and zeal to undertake 
it. The second fact is, that the more pretending the schools are, the 
more completely is God excluded from them, and the more decided is 
the opposition to the introduction of the Bible, while many of the hum- 
bler sort have all along kept the Scriptures in them ; that is, the richer 
sort of our people in this, as in many other respects, have been among 
the most of all indifiererit to God and removed from our evangelical 
influence. It is an item in this hasty outline too significant and too 
pleasing to be omitted, that all our Christian missionaries, it is believed 
without exception, have made the Bible the principal class-book in 
every school established by them. 

" Let me now present in a more direct form some of the great con- 
siderations which decide oar duty on the subject before us. In doing 
this, I shall separate such as more particularly regard the individual 
aspect of the question from those which may be considered as pertain- 
ing more properly to its social character. And in presenting both 
views, the occasion admonishes me rather to make suggestions than to 
attempt an argument. 

Fp 



450 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" It may be observed, then, as the first axiom of every individiud 
consideration of this subject, that religion is the most imperative neces- 
sity of the human soul. No people have ever been without the ele- 
ments of a regular system of religious faith ; nor can as many single 
persons be computed in any age or nation who are destitute of the re- 
ligious sentiment, as there can be of persons destitute of reason, of 
speech, of a perfect human form. So that man is as essentially a re- 
hgious as he is a rational, a speaking, or even a defined being at all. 
It is equally indubitable that this necessity of the soul is developed as 
early as any other want of it ; and it is evolved with a steadiness and 
intensity equal to any other. Upon what other principle are we to 
account for the horrible excesses and the inconceivable follies of the 
human race in connection with this solemn and all-pervading sentiment 
of our spiritual dependence, this ever-pressing sense of our spiritual ne- 
cessities ? And what conceivable excuse can be pleaded for not provid- 
ing for this necessity from the first moment of its development ? for not 
directing this sentiment by an instruction as ceaseless as its own activ- 
ity ? for not sustaining and molding this confiding and absorbing im- 
pulse by the power and the wisdom which God has made manifest to 
this very end '^ 

" Let it be further considered that there are but two possible found- 
ations, upon one or other of which all religion must repose. One is 
authority, the other conviction. The former, professing to emanate 
from the throne of God, and to be perpetuated in a manner always 
supernatural, sustains its pretensions by unceasing miracles, and appears 
before men only to state its claims and receive unqualified obedience to 
its behests. To hear, to believe, and to obey, are in its view the sole 
duties of mankind ; while to reason, to investigate, to compare, to 
analyze, are all ahke rebellious against its sacred character. On the 
other hand, the religion of conviction, recognizing God as its author, 
and the present blessedness and eternal glory of man as its immediate 
ends, throws open the heart, the mind, and the conscience to its sweet 
and ennobling influences. It appeals constantly to the understanding ; 
it pleads for nothing more earnestly than for the most ample, thorough, 
and mature consideration ; it asks for dominion over the afiections, the 
conscience, the intellect, only when that dominion shall have been con- 
ceded by a willing, an enlightened, a convinced spirit. This is cur re- 
ligion. This Bible is at once its sacred repository and the great instru- 
ment of its propagation. Why, then, shall we withdraw it from the 
very seats of knowledge ? Why withhold it from the active and in 
quiring spirit of childhood ? Our religion is based on knowledge, found- 
ed in liberty, approved by conscience. Let us act as if we felt this to 
be true. 



APPENDIX. 



451 



" In the general education of youth, we commit a great mistake as 
to what education really is ; and in deciding who are educated, fall 
into a fatal error. To omit in education all moral training, is to train 
imperfectly for time and not at all for eternity. It is, indeed, to neg- 
lect the man himself and train some of his inferior powers. No man 
is or can be educated whose moral faculties have not been adequately 
trained ; and if they have been mistaught, he has been enslaved, not 
educated ; degraded, not enhghtened. Now it so happens that among 
us the case is so presented, by reason of a thousand concurring circum- 
stances, that no adequate moral instruction can be furnished generally 
in our public schools unless the Bible itself be put into the hands of 
the pupils ; so that we are shut up to the necessity of rejecting from 
public education all true discipline and instruction of the better and 
more urgent part of our being, or of using for those purposes the best, 
and greatest, and fittest of means, the teacher of all teachers, the very 
Word of God himself. Blessed alternative, which forces a people, 
panting to be taught, to remain in ignorance or learn of God I 

" For if we restrict our views of education so narrowly as to embrace 
in its scope only that which is purely mental, no absurdity can be more 
audacious than to reject the Bible even from such a plan. Is it of use 
to know what we are, what we can be, what we have been ? to know 
how we can be and achieve whatever is most excellent ? Is it a part 
of instruction to set before us the highest exhibitions of whatever is 
great and striking in the past ? the greatness of virtue, the greatness 
of passion, of achievement, of effort, of transcendent civilization, of un- 
paralleled crime ? Well, what is the Bible ? It is, among other 
things, the record, the safest, often the only record, of the largest, the 
longest, the most striking part of the history of genius, of knowledge, 
of sublime adventure, of all glorious success ; yea, of man himself ! It 
is the text-book out of which to unriddle the great mystery of God's 
providence in the government of the world I The greatest of all poets, 
philosophers, orators, moralists, lawgivers, rulers, and conquerors who 
have adorned these long annals which cover two thirds of the whole 
duration of human existence here below — these are the men who have 
written this book ! It contains their legacy of wisdom and instruction 
to generations of generations ; a legacy so vast and so enduring, that 
one single man, and he the beginner of the book, has bestowed, in a 
few brief pages, the elements of civilization, of organized society, of law. 
of morals, and of religion, upon every age that has succeeded him, and 
stamped the impress of his mind upon the whole human race I Why, 
this book, which is the sum and substance of all literature more ancient 
than the Greek, is the substratum also of whatever exists in our mod- 
ern tongues I The two great Protestant translations of the Bible, the 



452 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



Germanic and our own, formed, in truth, the two languages ; and they 
reign over them still when centuries have passed, the highest classic 
respectively in each. In sober verity, this book is not only the book 
of God, but also the book of the human race, so that to reject it is 
at once to be separate from the Lord and from enlightened man. 

" Let us turn for a moment to the social aspect of this question. As 
there are but two principles on which religion can repose, so, also, there 
are but two on which the social state can be perpetuated among men. 
Organized society, in any supportable or even possible form, can be 
sustained only in one of two modes. T\iQ first method limits the num- 
bers who take part in the public authority or control to those who are 
presumed to be capable of these functions, increasing or reducing the 
amount as experience shall suggest or necessity enforce. Upon this 
principle the great bulk of human institutions have been constructed ; 
and so simple is it, and so deeply seated in the nature of the case, that 
the mass of mankind have been generally unable or unwilling (and the 
distinction is immaterial to the argument) to prevent their own dis- 
franchisement, and to arrest the tendency of power to accumulate in a 
few, often in a single will. We can not be too profoundly sensible that, 
in the long run, power not only should not, but can not be exercised by 
those unfit to wield it ; and that all attempts to violate this necessity 
entail the destruction of society itself. The second method proceeds on 
the assumption that the whole society is endowed with this capacity ; 
and that, in the particular case, all are, or all can be, prepared to take 
part in every exercise of public authority. It is on this second princi- 
ple that all our political institutions are founded. Our great repubhc, 
and all our free and sovereign commonwealths, have been frankly per- 
iled upon this great and stirring truth, that man is capable of sel:f 
government. Not man every where, for history would contradict us. 
Not man irabruted and demoralized, for our previous reasonings show 
this to be absurd. Not man generally, embracing women and children, 
idiots and slaves, for this subverts the very order, of nature. But gen- 
erally the truth, that man, enlightened, civilized, and free, is the safest 
depository of all ultimate authority, and the wisest dispenser of so much 
as the exigences of society require to be parceled out for common use. 
If this be not true, our country is undone. If it be true, the people 
must nevertheless be sustained in that condition which we call enlight- 
ened, civilized, and free. 

" But I believe no reilccting man will hesitate to admit that, of all 
mfluences which affect the character, the prosperity, the duration, the 
glory, and the usefulness of nations, moral influences are incomparably 
the most controlling. And of that immense class of influences which 
might, in a large sense, be called moral, the most important and en- 



APPENDIX. 



453 



during are, beyond all doubt, those wliich are strictly religious. Is it 
too much to assert that the influence of a national religion is greater 
upon national character than all other influences combined ? Is it 
going too far to declare that the destinies of states have been more 
deeply aflected by their religious faith than by all other circumstances ? 
The very history of mankind is essentially and chiefly a history of re- 
ligious ideas and religious developments. The great intellects of all ages 
have comprehended this truth ; and though they differed about what 
religion is or should be, yet they felt and saw that, to the world, it is 
in fact every thing. In every nation, before these latter days of scofP 
ing, the entire mass of men, though they saw not, felt the same truth ; 
and hence the vehement opposition in them all to every change in their 
national faith. The sentiment uttered on this platform to-day by the 
chief magistrate of this commonwealth (Governor Seward, of New 
York), ' that without the Bible this republic would never have existed,' 
is as just as it is emphatic ; and I solenmly insist upon this inference 
from that truth, that without the Bible this republic can not continue ; 
for the general principle contended for has a most peculiar apphcation 
to ourselves. Our institutions belong to an advanced condition of so- 
ciety ; they can be sustained only by a community whose moral condi- 
tion is as peculiar and as advanced as their social system. This Bible 
contains the religion of this nation. This Bible, which alone is able to 
prepare our children for virtuous and enlightened liberty, which con- 
tains the sanction of our Creator to the principles of our polity, and 
throws the sacredness of religion around the simple, upright, humane, 
and free spirit of our institutions ; this Bible, which is of value to us 
equal to the value of liberty and independence, merely because it con- 
tains our religion, and wliich has, besides, this inappreciable worth, 
that its religion is true and divine, and the only religion that is either 
the one or the other ; this Bible, which will perpetuate our glory, if 
that can be done at all, and if it can not, will prepare our posterity 
to be and to do, in the midst of all calamities, Avhatever becomes the 
worthy descendants of our glorious ancestors — this treasure of all treas- 
ures we dishonor and defile by a deliberate act of national rejection I 

" No truth is more clearly established by the whole course of history 
than that there is a wise and holy providence continually exerted over 
the nations of the earth. They rise, and flourish, and pass away, un- 
der the eye and by the purpose of Him who, in the development of his 
sublime proposals, will not allow them to abide in strength which 
would be used to his dishonor ; and who, in pity to suffering man, will 
not permit the principles of evil to consolidate their force, and accumu- 
late, through successive ages, irresistible means to do wrong. Without 
the blessing and favor of God, no nation can stand, no people endure. 



^54 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

Alas I how multiplied and how sad are the evidences of this truth ; 
and how copiously has he taught us that his blessing is to be expected 
only by the grateful and the obedient ; that his favor is bestowed only 
as we walk in the ways directed by himself, and toward the ends which 
he proposes in his all-pervading goodness. But the revelation of his 
will is contained most plainly, if not alone, in this blessed Volume, 
which we dishonor by a great public act ; and the promises of his favor 
and protection are written in those pages which he has so urged, per- 
suaded, commanded us to make the light of life in every condition, 
every age, every relation, and every office through which his providence 
may guide us. Oh, blessed is that people whose God is the Lord I 

" It is not to be supposed that such an event as the exclusion of the 
Word of God from popular education could extensively occur or con- 
tinue for a considerable time without furnishing for itself many pretexts 
by which even good men might be beguiled, nor that such a calamity 
could be removed without serious resistance from many quarters. Sev- 
eral objections to the restoration of the Scriptures to the schools are so 
often urged by persons deserving to be heard, that it seems necessary 
briefly to state and answer them. 

" Among these, the most frequent, perhaps, are urged against the 
Scriptures themselves, which, it is alleged, are, in many particulars, 
far above the comprehension of children and youth, and which are, 
moreover, so often disfigured by a certain plainness of expression as to 
be unsuitable for promiscuous or even public reading before the young. 
To this the first reply may well be, that God who created us, and who 
perfectly knows us, has judged otherwise ; and that he made the Volume 
of his Word such as we have it, and has added the most express and 
emphatic commands that it be early, constantly, publicly, promiscuous- 
ly read. To all this he has joined the most precise assurances that ex- 
act obedience to this precept vdll have no other tendency than to make 
us wise and pure here below, and blessed beyond conception forever ; 
that all manner of intercourse with him, and all communion with his 
holy Word, are most pure and most profitable ; and that all contrary 
suppositions are highly offensive to him, and full of dishonor to his in- 
finite being. As a second reply, it may be stated with equal truth, 
that all experience proves the objection to be entirely mistaken ; for 
of all mankind, the wisest, the purest, the best were selected to write 
this sacred Volume ; and in all ages, the objectors themselves shall say 
if this has not been eminently the character of those who have the 
earliest, the most thoroughly, and the most sincerely pondered, master- 
ed, imbibed, and rejoiced in its precious contents. But, as a final an- 
swer, it is to be considered, that if the objection have any weight, it 
will be not only against the early and promiscuous study of the Bible, 



APPENDIX. 455 

but also, in a fundamental manner, first against the Christian religion 
itself, and, secondly, against all religion whatsoever, as being in itself too 
obscure for profitable study, and too immodest for public statement ; for 
there are multitudes of truths which adult years do not unravel more 
than the simphcity of childhood — yea, of truths which are the most 
vital in Christianity. And as religion in its largest sense, if it be true 
and profitable at all, must teach us what God is and what he requires 
of us, it is manifest that an immense portion of it, treating of God, must 
be more or less inscrutable, and revealed merely as truths to be believed, 
while still larger portions, treating of duties, of sins, and of divine sanc- 
tions touching both, must be always subject to such cavils as that now 
confuted. 

" A second objection, which seems to be urged out of a spirit of ami- 
able solicitude for the Bible itself, would exclude it from the course of 
systematic education lest a too great familiarity with it in early life 
should disparage religion itself in our subsequent regards. This con- 
ceit is founded in total ignorance of the human heart, and they who 
utter it overlook one of the firmest and most unalterable laws of our 
moral being. The objects which we cherish most fondly and most 
steadfastly are those which first occupied our early and ardent thoughts. 
The spirit cherishes a kind of immortal gratitude for that which made 
it first acquainted with itself, and revealed to it all its strength. Our 
earliest associations are our most enduring ones. Our first friendships 
are not only our sweetest, but, as one by one they fail and pass away, 
we learn with surprised grief that they are friendships which can not 
be replaced. We make new friends, valued, dear, perhaps even more 
deserving ; but, alas I they are those we trusted first in childhood, not 
those whose images grew into the substance of our hearts. The deep- 
est feelings of the human breast have been linked by God, in adaman- 
tine fetters, with the strong impressions and vivid remembrances of 
our early years. The objects of that period are the sacred objects of 
life, and the heart will not endure to have the meanest of them invest- 
ed with less than the costliest of its treasures. O that we could bind 
the early and tender affections of the whole people to the name of 
Christ, to the throne of God I O that this fatal familiarity with di- 
vine truth were the universal heritage of the children of our country ! 

" There are those who make it a third objection to restoring the 
Bible to the schools, that we have reason to dread great strifes and per- 
manent division among the friends of education, if not of religion itself, 
by pursuing this enterprise. It is to be feared that many who call 
themselves the friends of education are totally opposed to all religious 
influence either in the school or the community ; and there is too much 
reason to suppose that plans are already extensively matured, whose 



456 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

success will exclude forever all moral instruction from the course of 
popular education. This branch of this great subject needs, and must 
receive, first or last, a thorough sifting. But this is not the occasion. 
I will at present merely say, that manifestly there can be no union of 
effort between those friends of education who exclude from their sys- 
tem all moral training, and those who make conscience of taking the 
Bible to school with them ; and the sooner the question is made be- 
tween them at the bar of the public, the better for the country ; for 
the question involved is no less than this, Whether the education of a 
religious people shall be subjected to an infidel or a Christian control ? 
As it relates to the true friends of the Bible, there can be no cause nor 
even occasion of strife here. If there be one single point in which all 
true Christians can unite, it surely is this, that the Word of God should 
be given to the human race, and be received by it. Or, if this may not 
be, it is the strongest possible proof that there must be some inherent 
or some providential hinderance to all united action among those who 
are earnestly contending for the same general object. This I do not 
beheve. We shall find the Christians of this country united, not di- 
vided by the present proposition ; which, while it may separate the 
friends of the Bible more widely from its enemies, will 'bind them more 
firmly to each other. For the rest, strifes and divisions are the price 
we pay for all that is precious in a sinful world. They can be no- 
where better met than .under the shadow of the cross ; no standard is 
more worthy to endure them under than the banner of divine truth : 
no object can be set before us for which we might better suffer them 
than the charter of salvation. 

"Beloved brethren, friends of the Bible and of the Lord Jesus, this 
is the instrument which God himself has provided with which to sub- 
due the earth unto himself, and triumph over sin and hell. Nothing 
can stand before a weapon whose edge has been tempered in heaven. 
It is our part to use this great weapon of our sacred warfare, this sword 
of the Spirit of God, which we know to be, through him, mighty to 
pull down every strong hold of iniquity ; to use it as men who combat 
not with flesh and blood, but with principalities and powers ; yea, as 
men who fight the good fight of faith under the eye and guidance of 
Him who has long ago openly triumphed over our stoutest enemies, 
and led captivity itself captive. 

" And why should doubts arise in our minds, or our faith or courage 
for a moment fail us ? What has not the past witnessed ? What 
victories of grace and redeeming love has it not recorded ? Let long 
history repeat. Time would utterly fail us to speak of the triumphs 
of this blessed Volume in great antiquity ; its triumphs while it was 
itself incomplete ; the triumphs of all, even its smallest parts, each 



APPENDIX. 457 

adding- trophy upon xropliy as proofs of its own title to be added to the 
portions that had come from the skies before it. How glorious was its 
career throughout all the East — the great Shemite age — the early 
manhood of the world I Then, in the mighty transition age of the 
Greeks — Egypt and Asia surrendering civilization to Europe — Shem 
transferring the golden scepter to Japhet — the light of the world only 
chased away the night before the advancing radiance of the light from 
above ! Then came the mighty CEesars, victorious over all besides ; 
and they and Rome itself, subdued by three centuries of meek endur- 
ance and uncomplaining martyrdom, sat down also at the feet of Jesus I 
Its next trophies came from fierce barbarians, subdued by empires and 
by armies rather than by single men ; invading millions, the shadow 
of whose banners obscured the Roman world, as they descended like 
successive floods, overwhelming every seat of civilization ; savages Avho, 
but for the Bible, had sealed the doom of man. Greater, perhaps, than 
all the past, its achievements during the long night of the Middle Ages 
— that time and times, and the dividing of time, when all open sacri- 
fice of praise seemed lost, and the weeping and bleeding church 'sat 
desolate in the great moral wilderness, listening in silence to the only 
voice that dared bpeak truth or utter comfort. Here is that voice, 
meek but undismayed, as in those centuries of despair. Here are those 
witnesses, ready to speak, and die, and live again, as when the gloom- 
iest sackcloth covered them. But God heard their testimony when 
man was deaf to their entreaties ; and God restored again, as from the 
dead, his persecuted and corrupted Church, The Reformation was, in 
the strictest sense, accomplished by the Bible ; and its greats fruits 
were the restoration of the Bible, with its knowledge, liberty, and 
righteousness, to man. Similar were the fruits of what men strangely 
call the great rebellion of England, but which was, in fact, a rebellion 
to God and agai7ist iniquity ; which has, until now, exerted so great 
an influence over all the interests of the human race ; and in the 
midst, and by the means, and through the agents and influences of 
which, the Bible had its Golden Age in England. And, last of all, 
among ourselves, amid all the blessings we enjoy, and all the efforts we 
are making, what Christian does not admit that all are the fruits of 
the blessed Word of God — of that Word believed, obeyed, received into 
our hearts, and held forth in our lives ? 

" And all these great successes which the past records, all these vic- 
tories which our eyes behold, are proofs to us, as from God himself, of 
what we might still achieve by the same living Word. Let us not 
fear — let us not faint. Give us but the Word of God, and scope to 
spread and teach it — all else is sure. Let darkness revisit the earth ; 
let error, ignorance, and superstition return ; let the defeated enemies 



458 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of truth and light come forth and rule ; set up your tyrants in the state, 
your bigots over the Church ; establish falsehood by the law ; corrupt 
the ministers of truth, and burn once more its martyrs at the stake. 
Do this and more. Twice already, since Jesus bled, has it been done 
throughout the earth — yea, done for long and bloody ages. And yet 
again we look that such things shall be, for so God speaks. What 
then ? Give us but the Bible, and we will purge your priesthood, de- 
throne your tyrants, defeat your bigots, put shame on error, and make 
again the martyr's blood the Church's seed ! Give us the Bible — the 
Bible without note or comment — the Bible as God gave it, and we 
will, with this alone, by God's indwelling grace, defy death and hell, 
and for the third time conquer the world for Christ I" 

" The Rev. Dr. Milnor, after a complimentary notice of the speech 
of Mr. Breckenridge, presented the society the following excellent letter 
from Mr. Greenleaf, professor of law in the University of Cambridge, 
Mass., which, aside from its own excellence, was such a happy illus- 
tration and confirmation of the views just presented, that he could not 
deny himself the pleasure of reading it at large. 

" ' Cambridge, May 4, 1839. 
" ' Bev. and dear Sir, 
"'I can hardly express the regret I feel at being again deprived of 
the privilege of attending the ensuing anniversary of our beloved so- 
(•iety ; but the necessary absence of my colleague in the law department 
of our university renders it unavoidable. I particularly wished to have 
urged on the society the importance of new effort to introduce the Bible 
into all our common schools throughout the land. Having myself been 
early acquainted with such a school, where the Bible was the princi- 
pal reading-book, I have seen something of its influence on boys up 
to their riper years ; and the observations of subsequent life have deep- 
ened the conviction of my mind, that if our institutions are to be per- 
petuated, it will be only through a wide and general diffusion of the 
principles inculcated in the Word of God. The Bible is the only faith- 
ful picture of real life — the only true history of man — the only unvar- 
nished narrative of his sins, and of the just retributions of his holy Sov- 
ereign. It is the only historical book which gives a true account of 
the human family in all its relations and its motives of conduct. Man 
falsifies bis own history ; God has written it with the pen of truth. 
Its fidelity is evinced in the fact that it has never become obsolete. 
The man delineated in the Bible is the man of every age of the world, 
from the creation to our own days, and will be such to the end of time. 
And if it is important to man to learn the moral nature of his race, and 
to learn it early, let him be taught it in his youth among the rudi 
ments of his education, from the fountain of all truth — the Bible. 



APPENDIX. 459 

" ' It has been well observed by one of our most gifted men, that to 
seek to make children become good citizens without the aid, and sanc- 
tions, and light of religion, is to cultivate the branches and neglect the 
root. They can be made such only by the early inculcation of the 
radical principle of all good citizenship, the fear of God and the habit 
of filial obedience to his commands. It is a great inconsistency to 
" leave them to decide for themselves till maturity" in this important 
matter, while, with better reason, we decide for them, during the im- 
maturity of the judgment, in all things else. Man is a confiding being, 
constituted, by his Creator, to believe implicitly during the entire period 
of his inability to judge for himself. In infancy he takes every thing 
upon trust ; and of this condition of his mind we avail ourselves in 
every part of his education. The system of education itself is based 
upon it, and is conducted upon this principle, changed, by degrees, only 
as the disposition to universal and implicit confidence gradually decays, 
and is succeeded by the power of ripened intellect. If the mind is not 
subdued and enslaved by the inculcation of mathematical truth, which 
in childhood is as much received upon trust as any other, neither ^vill 
it be by the inculcation of the truths of religion and good morals. In- 
deed, the mind can not be kept free from all impressions on this subject. 
The education of children is far from being confined to school, or even 
to the fireside. All with whom the child is permitted to associate 
contribute their share to the formation of his moral character ; but it 
is only in the school, and under the paternal roof, that the hostile in- 
fluences of the world can be successfully met and counteracted. We 
can not begin too early to teach our children the truths of the Christian 
religion, nor pursue it too long. There is in the Bible enough that the 
weakest can comprehend, and enough for the grapplings of the stron- 
gest mind. 

" ' The present state of Europe and America furnishes another and 
strong argument for increased efibrt in the religious and moral educa- 
tion of children. Public opinion in both countries is in a state of revo- 
lution, and great changes are in progress. There is not only a strug- 
gle between despotism and liberty, but another controversy going on 
between the liberty of good government and extreme hcentiousness ; 
and yet another between the cause of Christ and the enemies of his 
cross and of his religion. From these causes, deriving, as they do, 
great force from the tide of European emigration to our shores, the 
character of our population is unstable, and deep and important changes 
are almost daily proposed in our institutions. The conservative energy 
on which these must depend for safety, will be mainly in the virtue of 
our immediate successors ; and this is to be created and preserved only 
by their rehgious education. They may be trained in the love of God 



460 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

and his law ; and to this end his law must be early set before them, 
day by day, in the common schools. If we would have them imbibe 
correct principles, we must lead them daily to the fomitain of all truth. 
Our country is a Christian country. The Christian religion is acknowl- 
edged, more or less directly, as that of the people, in the laws and 
usages of every state in the Union. Our religion, as Protestants, is 
that of " the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible." If 
we would have good rulers, we must have good electors ; for our rulers 
receive their public character at the ballot-boxes, and represent, in offi- 
cial conduct, the principles and character of their constituents. This 
character will be determined by the influence impressed in youth, and 
perhaps no influences bear more strongly upon youth than those of the 
books they read. It is easy, on this ground, to account for the opposi- 
tion of the enemies of religion to the use of the Bible as a school-book ; 
and this opposition of a sagacious enemy should lead us the more strenu- 
ously to urge its adoption in all the common schools of the country. 

*" It is no new experiment that I would urge, for it has been already 
tried with the most beneficial results. The fathers of our Revolution 
were trained in common schools, with the Bible for their principal, and, 
generally, their sole reading-book. We confess our own degeneracy 
from the high standard of those pure patriots ; but wherein has our 
education differed from theirs, except that we have discarded the Bible 
from common schools ? In other nations the like results are seen. In 
Iceland, for example, though they have no common schools, their chil- 
dren are carefully instructed in the Bible, it being almost their only 
book ; and among no people are its precepts more familiarly referred 
to, or more conscientiously regarded. 

"'I might add, that the possession of a common faith, and an en- 
gagement in united and common effort for its propagation, by means 
of the Bible, may prove to be among the most efficacious of means for 
the prevention of war. The great body of Christians thus engaged at 
this time in this great work can not be without influence in their re- 
spective nations. Children who have been taught God's Word from 
the Bibles of strangers, will not easily be induced, in maturer age, to 
make war upon their benefactors. When SM^eden was compelled by 
Napoleon to declare war against England, and a form of prayer for the 
success of their arms was sent to the several churches, the Dalecarli- 
ans refused to read it, saying it was a mistake ; for the English, who 
had sent them bread in their famine, and Bibles too, could not be their 
enemies 1 

" ' But I must stop somewhere ; and the only apology I can off^er for 
writing this much is, that I write from a full heart, and to a fellow- 
Christian. If my absence from the anniversary should leave the cause 



APPENDIX. 4(52 

with one advocate the less, pray submit these views to some fellow- 
laborer, and ask him, in his own way, to advocate them, if approved, 
"'I remain, dear sir, afiectionately yours. 

" ' Simon Greenleaf.' " 

The Facilities for the Circulation of the Scriptures in all Languages. 
By the Rev. Dr. Newton, England. 

Mr. Newton said, " I feel that, were we convened for any other pur- 
pose, as a stranger in your city and country, something in the form of 
an apology might well be expected of me ; but I am free to confess 
that, where the Bible is concerned, I feel a sort of instinctive dislike to 
apologies. Have we not one Master ? and can we not engage in one 
cause together, seeing we are all brethren ? Where the Bible is in 
question, I like not the idea of stranger ; I know not that the vocabu- 
lary of the British and Foreign or the American Bible Society fur- 
nishes a word to express the idea of stranger — strangers and foreigners 
we are not. We are not strangers to the Bible nor the Bible cause. 
No, we are not strangers, not even foreigners, ' but fellow-citizens with 
the saints and the household of faith.' A distinguished individual, an 
invalid, who was very fond of music, asked his daughter to play a fa- 
vorite air, and while he listened, and observed the tears flow from the 
eyes of his wife and daughters, he exclaimed, ' I am surrounded with 
an atmosphere of affection.' Sir, I think we may adopt that language 
here to-day, and that in a higher sense, and say, We are surrounded 
with an ' atmosphere of affection' — undying affection — which will live 
when these bodies go down to the dust, and continue to eternity. 

"It is asserted by this great society that the Bible is a divine book, 
and that the religion it unfolds is from Heaven, and not of men, and 
that this revelation is duly attested and authenticated. The Bible is 
based on the rock of eternal truth. It stands like the cerulean arch, 
and can not be overturned. 

" It is also asserted that it is not only a divine book, but the best of 
books. Indirectly it is asserted, that if it comes from God, it must be 
worthy of God ; it must be suited to his purposes, and to the circum- 
stances of those for whom it is designed ; and this we find to be the 
fact. And why do we give it that distinctive appellation ? Because 
the Bible is the book, it being the foundation of all other books which 
are worthy the attention of men. As says an old writer, ' The Bible 
has not only God for its author, but truth for its matter, and salvation 
for its end.' I remember an anecdote of George III., when an author 
presented him for consideration an apology for the Bible. After ex- 
amining it, he said, ' I hke the book, but not the title ; the Bible needs 
no apology.' 



^Q2 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" It is also asserted by this great society that the Bible is adapted to 
its end. A contrary opinion would be an impeachment of its Author, 
as though he had caused a book to be given for the use of man which 
was not adapted to his necessities. The Bible is adapted to all the 
ends for which it is designed. I remember the words of an eminent 
saint of a past age : ' I am as an arrow flying through the air ; a spirit 
come from God, and must return to God. A few moments I have on 
earth, to be seen no more. I want to learn one thing, the way to 
heaven. I hear God has caused this to be written in a book. Give 
me that book.' I am one of those who hold that the Scriptures con- 
tain all that is necessary to salvation. You, or I, or any one might 
put forth a book on any given subject, and might obtain readers ; but 
some readers might not see the force of my arguments, and others might 
question my authority. But it is otherwise with that book ; for wher- 
ever that book is found, there is its Author ; and wherever that book 
is carefully and seriously examined, there is the Spirit that dictated it, 
to assist him that reads, to shine upon the word, and to shine into his 
heart. In the north of Britain a very worthy individual called on her 
minister to let him know that she had received the knowledge of the 
truth. He invited her into his study, and very kindly inquired how 
she had been awakened, and under what sermon it was. ' Sermon I' 
said she ; ' is it the sermon ye're asking about ? It was not the sermon 
at all, but the text, " God so loved the world, that he sent his only-be- 
gotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth in him might not 
perish, but have everlasting life." ' 

" There are advantages to be derived from this book sufficient to 
justify you in giving it the widest circulation. I want not to put the 
light under a bushel, but to set it up on high, that it may give light to 
the whole world. If there is a remedy for disease, let all the diseased 
of our race know where it is. If there is a supply of food, let all the 
famishing come. If there is living water, let us do all we can to open 
channels in every direction, that all the thirsty may drink." 

After some remarks upon circulating the Bible without note or com- 
ment, he sa:yi, " Whatever there is of my creed in the Bible (for I 
would not have any thing even of my own creed circulated which is 
not in the Bible), whatever there is of my creed in the Bible, that goes 
wherever the Bible is circulated. But you can not circulate the Bible 
without note or comment. But what is the comment ? Here is an ex- 
ample : In the Bible we read, ' Behold how good and how pleasant it is 
for brethren to dwell together in unity I' Behold the comment ; where 
is there a better than we now see ? But that has not gone far enough 
David was only able to say this in respect to brethren. That was Jew- 
ish ; for in the Jewish synagogues you never see any but brethren — 



APPENDIX. 463 

there are no sisters there ; hut we can say, ' Behold how good and 
how pleasant it is for brethren and sisters to dwell together in unity.' 
Again, the Bible says, ' Love thy neighbor as thyself.' Behold the 
precious comment. Who is my neighbor ? Not the man who lives 
next door to me, but tlie man who needs my help. Here we are show- 
ing our love to our neighbor, by endeavoring to extend to him one of 
heaven's choicest gifts. And I trust that on this great amiiversary oc- 
casion you will always have such precious notes. Another word : this 
society is not hostile to any other Christian society. Reference has 
been made to not a few of them to-day. That reverend brother from 
India — I rejoice to meet him here, and to hear the testimony of that 
brother ; for I have a brother whom he doubtless knows, a brother of 
the Wesleyan connection, in that section of the world where he labors." 

Mr. Meigs. — " Yes, I know him, and thirty of your dear brethren, 
and we labor together in unity." 

Mr. Newton. — " Thank you ; there's another comment. I like to 
connect the Missionary and Bible societies together. They have taken 
root in the same soil, and have been watered by the same hand ; atid 
they bear the same kind of fruit. One branch does not envy the other, 
but they grow up and commingle their branches together to strengthen 
each other. If your gTcat society be employed in sending forth this 
book, and the missionary society in translating and circulating it, it is 
all one w^ork. When you give your book to the native, and, as he is 
reading, the missionary begins at that Scripture and preaches Jesus to 
him, he receives the truth and goes on his way rejoicing! 

" Now, as already intimated, I have just come from England, and 
already I have traveled over five or six hundred miles of your territory. 
I have been greatly dehghted. I have seen what a little while ago 
was an unbroken wilderness turned into a fruitful field, with cities and 
villages teeming with a busy population. I thought, as I was coming 
from Philadelphia, ' What is this great Bible Society ?' And I thought 
it might be compared to a great moral engine for cultivating the moral 
soil ; and in how many instances has the wilderness already been seen 
to blossom with the loveliness and fragrance of the rose I And when 
I approached your city, I inquired again, 'Wliat is this great Bible 
Society ?' And I said, it is a stately vessel, well built, of good materi- 
als, well manned ; and with so venerable a man as yourself at the 
helm, I think no one can have any fears as to her making a good voy- 
age — a vessel richly freighted ; and though your ship, as well as ours 
of the British and Foreign Society, has had to pass through the straits, 
she has always got safely through, and now she is under full sail, con- 
veying her cargo to the nations of the earth. 

" She has sometimes to encounter great opposition ; but this only 



464 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



occasions the vessel to appeal' to better advantage as she moves grace- 
fully and majestically along. She has touched at various ports. The 
breeze of opposition has only served to keep the streamers flying, to let 
the world know that she is there. She is going on her way — she has 
taken in her cargo ; and I pray that she may have a most prosperous 
voyage, and that often the spectator may hear the sound going up from 
her, ' All's well !' 

" And now I have to tell you I have just been on an excursion to 
the City of Washington ; and I was there fortunate enough to find an 
eagle's nest — a golden eagle's nest ; and I found ten half-grown eagles 
in said eagle's nest ; and the owner of the nest said I might take them 
and give them to you ; and I pledge myself that there is not a broker 
in the city that will not give you fifty dollars for the ten half grown, 
half fledged eagles — from a member of the Wesley an Episcopal Church 
of the City of Washington." 

The Circulation of the entire Bible. By the Rev. Thomas Brainerd. 

Mr. Brainerd said " he concurred in the sentiment already expressed, 
that the Bible, the ivhole Bible, should be circulated. The resolution 
called upon him, especially, to remonstrate against a usage, now said 
to be too prevalent, of separating the Old Testament from the New, 
because the New Testament could be circulated at less expense than 
the whole Bible. None will contend that the New Testament alone 
ought in no case to be printed and diffused. 

" When the circumstances of the case preclude the circulation of the 
whole Bible, let us give a part. To the famished traveler half a loaf 
is better than none ; while it is still true that a whole loaf is better 
than half What we oppose is the practice of holding back a part of 
the sacred Volume from those to v/hom the whole might be given. We 
are not to consult a false economy, and organize our arrangements for 
giving only the New Testament to our fellow-men. If any societies 
have acted on this principle, they would do well to remember, 

" 1. That it is not in accordance with the plan of God. While 
they give the Old Testament last, or never, God gave it first to our 
race. We know not why He, who could throw moral light into the 
world with noontide radiance, ordained that the breaking dawn should 
brighten gradually into the perfect day. But so it was. It is not for 
us to say that light accumulated gradually is not best adapted to honor 
God in the sanctiflcation of men. 

" 2. The practice in question is opposed to the philosophy of human 
nature. The opinion may be questioned, but it is the settled opinion 
of the speaker, that nearly all children who ever gain a relish for read- 
ing the Bible, are first attracted to it by the simple and touching nar- 



APPENDIX. 465 

ratives, the marvelous incidents, the scenes of tender pathos and chiv- 
alrous adventure recorded in the Old Testament. Constituted as 
children are, the Old Testament is the dimly lighted but attractive 
vestibule which leads to the radiant temple of Gospel truth. 

"3. The practice in question is peculiarly ill adapted to meet the 
wants of the Oriental world. In manners, customs, and political in- 
stitutions, Oriental nations are now substantially the same as three 
thousand years ago. The Old Testament is arrayed in a rich Oriental 
costume. Its bold metaphors, its high- wrought poetry, its adaptation 
to the enthusiastic temperament of Eastern nations, commend it as a 
pioneer of the Gospels. Let us not withhold a part of the Bible so 
providentially fitted to attract the attention and charm the hearts of 
the heathen world. 

"4. The practice of suppressing, or negligently circulating the Old 
Testament, is rebuked by the noMire of the Bible. The Old Testa- 
ment has its hundred fingers pointing to the New. The New Testa- 
ment is built, not only on the foundations of the apostles, but of the 
prophets. To give the Bible its highest moral influence, we must not 
separate truths to which God has given such interesting relations. 

"5. To withhold the Old Testament is perilous to the salvation of 
souls. Not because the New Testament fails to reveal a safe rule of 
duty and a precious salvation by the cross, but because man is spirit- 
ually blinded, is the ivhole Bible indispensable. The more defective 
the moral vision, the more necessary is clear, concentrated, steady light 
over the pathway of man. Can the sweet strains of David be shut out 
from the human ear, can the voice of prophecy be hushed to silence, 
without peril to the interests of the soul ? 

"5. To withhold the Old Testament v/hen it might be given, is 
opposed to "^(^ fundamental principles of the Bible Society. We are 
to give the Bible, not only without note or comment, but without mu- 
tilation. We are to distribute the Word of Life, not in fragments, but 
as God gave it to us, in all the soberness of its history, the tenderness 
of its promises, and the symmetry of its doctrines, 

"7. It is bad economy of time and money to distribute the Bible in 
fragments. We are compelled to investigate the wants of the world, 
overcome a reluctance to receive the Word of God, and bear the book 
to every man's door, 

" When these agencies are all in requisition, and in their nature ad- 
equate to supply families with the icJiole Bible, shall we be so stinted 
in charity as to give but one part of the blessed book? When, with 
so little additional sacrifice, we can confer the whole Bible (Heaven's 
own agent of moral renovation) upon the ignorant and wayward, shall 
we hold back a part of the treasure ? 

Gg 



466 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" We have but one generation with whom our march is made to 
eternity. Shall we grudge the means requisite to give the Bible, uu- 
mutilated, to our fellow-pilgrims ? 

" The Bible contains the literature of heaven — of eternity. It is 
destined to survive in human hearts every other book, and command 
the ultimate veneration and obedience of the world. 

" When Sir Walter Scott returned, a trembling invalid, from Italy, 
to die in his native land, the sight of his ' sweet home' so invigorated 
his spirits that some hope was cherished that he might recover. But 
he soon relapsed. He found that he must die. Addressing his son-in- 
law, he said, ' Bring me a hook.' ' What book V replied Lockhart. 
' Can you ask,' said the expiring genius, whose fascinating novels have 
charmed the world, but have no balm for death — ' can you ask what 
book ? there is but one.' 

" No, there is but one book that God has given to us ; let us §^ive 
that one hook unmutilated to the world.'' 

Bihle Destitution, a Reason for increased Circulation. By the Rev> 
S. H. Ty7ig. D.D. 
Dr. Tyng proceeded to say, that " the first point here noticed was 
the immense destitution which still exists. In 1830 the society at- 
tempted the enterprise of supplying every family in the United States 
with a copy of the Bible ; and it believed that this had been accom- 
plished, when, in one enterprise, half a million of copies had been sent 
abroad to disseminate light and knowledge, and comfort and peace. 
And yet, when their periodical examination was made, more or less 
generally, it was found that there was still a destitution, most alarm- 
ing in its impression upon the mind and exciting to the most ardent 
efforts for its supply. He need hardly refer to the West. He would 
go back to the most populous, and intelHgent, and cultivated portions 
of the land. In the very scenes where exists the greatest light there 
is still found a most surprising destitution of the sacred Scriptures. In 
the northern counties of Massachusetts, in Norfolk and Middlesex, and 
even in Plymouth, standing full in sight of the modern Athens of the 
land — in sight of that majestic and venerable institution of learning 
dedicated by its motto, Christo et Ecclesice, to Christ and the Church — 
in the midst of these counties have been found fifteen hundred families 
utterly destitute of a copy of the sacred Word. In Plymouth county, 
the very field where our forefathers placed their feet — I say our, for I 
yield to no man in the flowing of the Pilgrim blood in my veins — 
where the very rock still stands on which they first knelt in prayer to 
the God of the Bible, in that very county were found five hundred 
families destitute of a single copy of the Word of God. 



APPENDIX. 467 

" Now, sir, if old Massachusetts, my native state, which has exerted 
so great and so noble an influence over the rest of the Unioii — which 
has done so much to influence and adorn the councils of the nation, to 
magnify her Senate, to give dignity to her bench, and to elevate the 
national character — if old Massachusetts is not able, with her concen- 
trated wealth, her indomitable energy, which has built up a system of 
rail-roads reaching in every direction, drawing to her bosom the re- 
sources of every region, until they have become so many blood-suckers 
fastened and fattening upon other states — if she, the center of so much 
power, and possessed of such abundant means, can not maintain herself 
in the possession of the Scriptures, but in her central counties so large 
a portion of her population have not a copy of the sacred Word, what 
are we to expect when, following that best class of our pioneers, the 
Methodist preachers, we enter upon the new and wide-spread regions 
of the Western world ? The whole land in which we dwell needs a re- 
exploration and supply ; and it will again require a distribution of an- 
other half million of copies of the Scriptures in the United States befdre 
we can say that there are as many Bibles as families upon our soil. 
We are brought into a condition requiring us to look at the fact as it 
stands before us. We must look upon it with the feelings of one who 
sees that there is pressing need to do something, and who brings a 
strong will to the work. We must look upon.it, not with a speculative 
glance, but with the feeling of a man who has a note to pay at a dis- 
tinctly marked and well-remembered hour, and default in which in- 
carcerates him, not in walls of stone, but in the iron bonds of conscience 
forfeited and privileges abused. We must make it a matter of con- 
science to meet this emergency, or God will soon be disregarded by the 
people, and his system of truth put under the shadow of neglect and 
carelessness by us. 

" In looking at this destitution, we can not separate from it the re- 
markable growth of the population of the country — a growth of more 
than 500,000 per annum, and 100,000 of this number immigrants from 
the Old World. Now we are told that this society can furnish 6000 
copies of the Scriptures in five days. But we have a vast weekly ad- 
dition to our population from one source, and they of a class that espe- 
cially need to be supplied with the Holy Scriptures. Why, sir, we 
are trying to sweeten, not a bitter fountain only, but a mighty river, 
which is continually flowing down upon us like the vast Mississippi, 
with all its waters, and something, I fear, of its mud, carrying desola- 
tion in its track, and scarcely leaving a trace of cultivation behind. 
More than one half, at least, of these immigrants are Roman Catholics 
— persons who, we may safely say, have not the Bible, because they 
are not permitted to possess it. But we are to regard no decrees that 



468 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

prohibit the use of the Word of God. God gave it to man, and man 
has not the right to take it from him. God has given man the right 
to read it, to understand it, and to apply it ; and that any man or body 
of men shall say to us that they only have authority to interpret it, and 
that its truths shall be in their keeping, under lock and key, is an ar- 
rogant assumption not to be countenanced — it is a trespass upon the 
rights of man, and is not to be endured, but is to be resisted with the 
sternest determination that Christian feeling and peace will allow. 
And here I am compelled to throw in a qualification. I can not give, 
even by silence, my consent to the doctrine which has been held upon 
this platform, that the Bible ever warrants us to shed the blood of our 
fellow-men, even in defense of its sacred truth. I believe in the inde- 
pendence which it teaches ; but it is that of Luther's reply when all 
Germany, Saxony, and Hesse exclaimed, ' Why not draw the sword ?' 
I believe with him that man's surest road to success in teaching the 
things of God is to work with the sword of the Spirit, which is the 
Word of God, and remembering that he that useth the sword shall 
perish by the sword. I will use no sword that will cause men to per- 
ish in my warfare. 

" But looking at this immense evil, for we can call it nothing else, 
we must not yield or abandon it. We are responsible for their souls, 
and for them must we labor. No man living — no council in the world, 
shall interfere to prevent us from laboring for their enlightenment, for 
no man living has a right to live in spiritual darkness and error, to 
shut himself up from God's sun shining all around him, to cast away 
the privileges with which God has surrounded him. The soul of man 
we have no right to despise or esteem of little worth ; and while the 
Bible, and not the authority of man, or the decrees of councils and of 
senates, is the sole instrument of spiritual light, the sole charter of 
human hope, the sole ground of eternal life, it is not in man to throw 
it from him and not become a rebel. We are compelled to urge it 
upon him, to force it upon his attention ; and if after seven visits he 
should still refuse, we are to make the eighth, and press it upon him 
still. When we look at that portion of this immigration which comes 
from Ireland — and once when I expressed my sympathy for Ireland on 
an occasion like this, I was called in question for the stand I had taken ; 
but I feel no disregard for Ireland. I never knew a feeling of contempt 
for Ireland. I honor its spirit — I have lived in imagination among its 
hills and valleys, and have felt the v/rongs done to its hardy peasantry. 
But I feel that there is other than Catholic blood in Ireland — other 
sons than those of R-ome, and other hearts besides those which are 
bleeding under English tyranny, or the priestly tithes of an Established 
Church. There is a Protestant body in Ireland who are pushed to the 



APPENDIX. 4(^9 

wall, and the time may not be distant when we shall hear that torrents 
of the blood of oppressors shall have deluged the fields of the green 
isle. From Ireland, and from the mountains and vales of Switzerland 
and Germany they come — a multitude that no man can number. 
They come Bibleless ; shall Ave leave them Bibleless here ? The re- 
sponsibility of their supply rests upon us. Their condition is a new 
argument for increasing our efforts ; nay, it is a command from Heaven 
that we may not disregard — a decree of Divine Providence — an ex- 
pression of the Divine will, and we have not the right as Christians — 
as American Christians we may not withhold from them that book 
without which they perish. 

" Now, while there is this destitution even in our own land, there is 
an intense excitement of clesiix upon the subject throughout the world. 
There has been no year before when your agents have had such a de- 
mand upon them as during that which has just closed. Demands pour 
in upon the board in such a way as to show that God is hastening for- 
ward the time for the universal diffusion of his light and his truth. 
We are approaching those rapids which anticipate the cataract. "We 
are drawing near the time when multitudes of minds are awakened at 
once into the most anxious concern for some path of peace, some refuge 
of hope. They come in from the most distant parts of our territory. 
Month after month do they awaken solicitude in view of the fact that 
we are straitened in our means of supply. While some reject it, oth- 
ers are reaching — are panting in their eagerness to receive it. And they 
are willing not only to take it, but to pay for it, so far as their utmost 
means will allow. Permit me to call your attention to some facts 
concerning the progress of the cause at Manchester, in England, as an 
instance of what has occurred elsewhere, and as a type of what is oc- 
curring every where. The Manchester Auxiliary Bible Society had 
for about thirty-four years sold and circulated annually about 5000 
copies : last year, up to September, the demand had increased to 15,000 
or 16,000. The committee were astonished at this threefold demand. 
But this was only the droppings before the shower. In the months of 
October and November alone, there were 20,000 additional copies dis- 
tributed, chiefly on sale. And this great increase had been effected by 
the young persons in the mills, junior clerks in counting-houses, &c. 
They had become the agents in circulating the Word of God. At the 
latest accounts the work was still going on, and spreading itself like 
the waves of the sea, in evidence of the secret energy with which the 
Bible wins its way in the manifestation of the Spirit, and diffusing 
light and glory into the hearts and minds of men. In this connection 
I may call your attention to the testimony of Bishop Sumner, of Ches- 
ter, a man whose publications have been widely circulated from this 



^jQ AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

city under the sanction of high official persons, and who has been con- 
sidered by many a type of a party to which I should not wish to be 
understood to belong. This gentleman, in writing to the agent, says 
that he has been requested to hand in a donation of £500, to be enter- 
ed as from an octogenarian friend. He expresses further his determin- 
ation to sustain the society in its crisis, and his thankfulness at being 
permitted to co-operate in so good a cause. And shall I err in walking 
in the path of that holy and dignified man ? No I no ! I will take up 
his song and exclaim, How highly am I honored in being permitted to 
aid in so good a cause I I feel that I am doing my Master's work 
while I plead the cause and further the interest of the American Bible 
Society. • I have nailed my flag to the mast in this cause, and never 
shall it be hauled down. I view it as the work of God, and it is not 
the right of any man to gainsay the principles on which it is founded, 
or the work which it accomplishes. I can not find it within my con- 
science to withhold my co-operation in its eflbrts. From the first day 
until this day, and in time to come, my heart is with it. The day is 
hastening when the men who have clung to this cause vidll be the truly 
honored. The interests in which we are engaged are imperishable, 
and the time v/ill come when men who now look with jealousy upon 
this society will be glad to shelter themselves under an influence which 
is felt to be good, only good, and good forever. 

" In looking abroad upon this spiritual destitution, the direct and 
only method of its supply is by giving them the Bible. That is the 
only method. I do not mean to undervalue other instrumentalities ; 
but every thing connected with the Bible, except its sacred truth, is 
but an instrument thereto. Give me that, and I view all other things 
— the Church and the clergy — but as its binding, as the means and 
instruments of its conveyance. For this were churches made, and for 
this alone was the ministry estabhshed. I agree most heartily with 
the gentleman from Virginia, ' Stick to the ministry while, and only 
while, they stick to the Bible.' The right to have the Bible, to inter- 
pret the Bible, and to apply its truth, is not the right of the Church 
nor the clergy. It is the right of every individual. The Comforter is 
not promised to the Church nor the clergy, but to every believing soul. 
And I hold that each individual soul has the tcnqualijied right to read, 
and interpret, and apply the Bible for himself It is my Pilgrim blood 
that has made me now Episcopahan. It is the very independence 
which brought our fathers to Plymouth Rock, that brought me under 
the shelter of that kind of hierarchy which, in the corruptions of its 
power, those men rejected, and against which they rebelled ; and I 
honor them for that rejection. I would have rebelled, and rejected it 
myself. And should similar oppression and similar corruption arise 



APPENDIX. 471 

even nearer home, I would follow the Puritans and the Scotch in re- 
sisting its power ; but I would imitate the Puritans in seeking a refuge 
in the wilderness, rather than the Scotch in taking up the sword in my 
own defense. In this spirit we are bound to follow out this w^ork. 
We must respect and regard the right of every man to have the Bible. 
What are the great contests now going on in the world but contests 
between the Bible and something which men w^ould force us to accept 
in its stead ? At what do all the anti-Christian organizations of the 
day aim, but to deprive us of the Bible, and lead us to take what they 
ofter us in its room ? The Socialists, the Fourierites, the infidels of 
every class, would take from me my Bible, and throw me, upon pas- 
sions, and appetites, and mterests which nothing but the Word of God 
can give me poAver to control. And shall I abandon this sure guide 
and accept of their proffered substitute ? Shall I leave the hght and 
the glory of God, and go down to dig and delve with self, and sin, and 
Satan, beneath the sod ? Shall I leave the lofty heights of the empy- 
rean, the seat of God's ineffable glory, and stoop to commune with the 
powers of darkness and of hell ? I hold the whole system to be a per- 
fect incarnation of Satan in its influence. Its purposes are base, and 
its principles, which I am sorry to see some respectable booksellers and 
publishers keep upon their shelves, involve nothing but moral pestilence 
and death to be dealt out to man. 

" There is another class who would take the Bible from me, and 
give me in its place the dogmas of the Church of Rome. Now, sir, I 
hold, that if any man is infallible, I am infallible myself If I am to 
submit to the mere opinions of any mere man, it shall be the man who 
lives within my ow^n breast. I will be bound by no man's infallibility. 
But I will take the Bible for myself, and ask assistance from that 
source where all have the promises of guidance and direction. But 
there is still another form of hostility to the Bible — sacred in its origin, 
but baneful in its results. It is that wliich seeks to block it up in 
catechisms, and forms, and creeds, and plans of man's device. I will 
take the creeds of my owti church on the ground which that church 
decides, so far as to me they are in accordance with the sacred Scrip- 
tures, and no farther. The connection between the Bible and the men 
who immediately succeeded the period of inspiration is between infalli- 
ble and fallible. However I may reverence the men, I can acknowl- 
edge no authority in them beyond the Word of God. There is no 
shelving shore from revelation to later periods of the Church. The 
junction is like the elevated pier in the full tide of the ocean ; no man 
shall throw me overboard, no man shall tempt me overboard, nor wiU 
I go to sea wdth any man, or any class of men, without that sure and 
infallible compass, the Word of God, and by that and that alone shall 



472 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

my bark be directed. (Loud applause.) I care nothing for this ap- 
plause — I am not a man to be moved or governed by it. And yet I 
shall probably be assailed ere long as having come here on purpose to 
obtain it. I do not court it, nor do I care for it. I freely approve 
and adopt the sentiment of Daniel Webster, who, when asked by his 
brother how he could face unmoved such a sea of heads as stood gazing 
at him, answered, ' Why, brother, I always take them to be a garden 
full of cabbage-heads.' That is the noble independence of a man who 
speaks for himself, who utters his own mind, without stopping to ask 
whether others will agree or disagree. What is it to me that those 
whom I address may deny or denounce the truth which I speak ? 
Why should I shape my thoughts and words to meet the wishes of my 
fellow-men for the few brief moments we have to live, when I am on 
my way to a heavenly kingdom, where all will unite and dwell in the 
harmony of the sons of God ? 

" The Bible is itself supreme. It does not need a ministry to inter- 
pret it — it does not tolerate a ministry to stand upon its ground. Every 
one, the highest and the lowest, the poorest cottage girl who sits by her 
door and knows nothing but the truth as it is in Christ — 

' A truth the brilliant Frenchman never knew' — 

must read it for herself, and interpret it for herself, and is as truly re- 
sponsible for the manner in which she appHes its truths as the most 
learned of its readers. When I go to that book, God speaks to me. I 
need no succession — I go at once to the fountain-head. It is not man 
that speaks. It is God who speaks ; and he speaks to me as if there 
were but one single Bible on the earth, and that Bible an angel had 
come down and bound upon my bosom. It is my Bible. It was writ- 
ten for me. It is the voice of God holding communion with my own 
soul, and never will I forfeit my right to commune with God. Nor is 
that communion to be held before councils, or in open temples, or in 
the presence of sects and of priests, and through the intervention of 
others. It is an act to be transacted in the most secret sanctuary of 
the Lord. No sects, no priestly interference can be admitted. It is 
an affair between God and my soul ; and as Abraham bid the young 
men abide with the ass at the foot of the mountain, so will I ascend, 
and go to meet God alone upon the top. I wish my views upon this 
point, thrown out as they are before this large assembly, to be stated 
clearly and to be distinctly understood, and the press may proclaim 
them to the world as those of a man who speaks for himself, and not 
under the constraints of creeds or the impositions of men. That book 
is the book of God ; and when I go out and commune with it, I hold 
communion with my God. I am Moses, just come down from the 



APPENDIX. 



473 



burning mountain, his face shining with joy and the glory of God. I 
am Isaiah, and have come from the golden courts where the seraphim 
and cherubim shout hallelujah to the Lord God of Hosts. I am Paul, 
and have seen the third heavens opened, and can tell what is uttered 
there, and have seen glories ineffable which no tongue can tell nor 
imagination conceive. I am John, and have laid my head upon the 
Master's bosom, and have caught, warm with his breath, the very 
whispers of the sweet counsels which he has breathed into my ear. It 
is not from any intervention or interpretation of man that it derives its 
power. God gave it to me. He made it, and he has preserved it. 
Nor does the fact that he transmitted it for centuries through the 
agency of unclean birds, as Elijah was fed by the ravens of the valley, 
change its character. It is still bread and food for all the world. 

" And nov/, as I am called to speak for this society, I can speak 
with confidence and determination. We are brought to this crisis, 
when the work must either go on or be given up. On every side, need, 
desire, suffering, pressing want meet our view, and we this day, to an 
extent we have little power to calculate, hold the key of supply. 
Brethren, will you work in this cause ? Not speak, nor think, nor 
feel — ^but will yon work ? We are to save this land for Christ in this 
generation in which we live, or we are to lose it forever. We are to 
carry out the work now, or lose the chance of settling the question who 
shall have dominion over it. If each one of the thousands gathered 
here from widely- distant sections of the land will go away resolved to 
double his exertions and contributions in the cause, v/e shall carry out 
the plan, and 750,000 apostles and prophets will be sent out into the 
length and breadth of the land in w^hich we dwell." 

Tlie Bible the great Moral Renovator of our Race. By the Hon. B. 

F. Butler. 

Mr. Butler expressed his high sense of the benevolence and grand- 
eur of the effort to which their attention had been invited, and his con- 
currence in the views presented to the meeting in the eloquent and 
truly Christian appeal which had just been made to them. The be- 
neficent effects of true religion on the interests of society, as well as its 
efficacy in saving the souls of men, had been portrayed with great fe- 
licity and distinctness ; and the obligations and motives which should 
prompt to a general diffusion of the sacred Volume had been enforced 
upon the consciences of those present in a most impressive manner. 

Mr. B. said, " I will not attempt to enlarge on either of those topics ; 
but it might be well to state two or three of the reasons which in- 
duced the friends of the Bible to rely upon the universal circulation 
and reception of that blessed book, not only as the appointed means of 



474 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

evangelizing- the nations, but as the true and only method by which 
the barbarous were to be civilized, the ignorant enlightened, the vicious 
reformed, and the miserable of all countries improved in their condi- 
tion. This consideration, if clearly established, would not only increase 
the zeal of the professed believer, but commend the effort now before 
us to the approbation and support of every benevolent and well-regu- 
lated mind, 

" It is only necessary," said Mr. B., " to cast a hasty glance over the 
surface of our country, to see that it is filled with individual, social, and 
public evils, which are the fruitful sources of an incalculable amount 
of suffering and crime. But if such be our own condition, how much 
worse is that of the great majority of Christian nations ? And who 
can adequately describe the abominations of heathenism, or the degra. 
dation and misery of those who are subject to its sway ? It was but 
natural that such a state of things should excite Ihe sympathies of be- 
nevolent men ; and it was honorable to the age in which we live, that 
this feeling was stronger and more general than it had ever been at 
any former period. Men of all classes and pursuits, in every part of 
Christendom, were proposing schemes to meliorate the condition of 
their own communities, and for the civilization and improvement of 
the rest of mankind. These schemes naturally took their complexion 
from the feelings and pursuits of their authors. The mere politician 
tells us that the object may be accomplished by wise and paternal in- 
stitutions of government, and by the faithful administration of their 
various functions. And surely no one — in our country at least — would 
underrate the value of such institutions. But all experience has shown 
that human legislation can only reach a small part of the ills to which 
the individual members of every community are liable, and that un- 
less the mass of the community are sufficiently instructed to be capa- 
ble of self-government, the wisest institutions will fail of their object, 
and soon fall into decay. And therefore we are told, that to well- 
adapted schemes of government there must be added thorough educa- 
tion of the people, by the means of primary schools, academies, and 
other institutions ; the general diffusion of useful knowledge by a free 
press ; the cultivation of the sciences ; and the general improvement 
of the intellectual faculties. But, although education and knowledge 
ought ever to be cherished, as sources of abundant and incalculable 
good, yet, in numerous instances, it has been found that vicious prac- 
tices and sentiments, and much individual and social misery, might co- 
exist with the cultivation of knowledge, with the arts of refined and 
elegant society. In view of this fact, the political economist advances 
another step, and insists upon the indispensable necessity of such ar- 
rangements as will check the growth of pauperism and crime, and pro- 



APPENDIX. 



475 



mote the certain acquisition and the advantageous distribution of na- 
tional wealth. 

"That immense good may be effected by the adoption of judicious 
economical arrangements-, and that many improvements in this respect 
are indispensable to the well-being of the most enlightened nations, is 
not to be doubted. But the most perfect system of political economy 
will still fall short of reaching the sources of the general evil. This 
truth is 60 deeply impressed on the hearts of those amiable and exem- 
plary men whose morality possesses eveiy claim to the epithet of 
Christian, except that it does not flow from ' repentance toward God' 
and ' faith in our Lord Jesus Christ,' that they are earnest in their en- 
deavors to inculcate the precepts and enforce the practice of a pure 
and operative morality. They feel and know that virtue is indispen- 
sable to individual happiness and public prosperity, and they would 
therefore make all men sober and orderly, industrious and upright. In 
all this they think and act wisely ; but, unfortunately, they do not wield 
an instrumentality powerful enough to accomplish their benevolent de- 
signs ; for here, again, we have the testimony of experience, which 
has shown that only a small portion of mankind can be induced to 
yield obedience to any system of morals which does not proceed from, 
and is not sanctioned by, a supernatural authority. All systems merely 
human are so deficient in the sanctions which accompany them, that 
many of those who adopt them feel themselves at liberty to violate, at 
pleasure, their most solemn injunctions. This was the case with many 
celebrated teachers among the Stoics — the most rigid moralists of pa- 
gan antiquity — and the same thing has been exemplified in the lives 
of some of the most eloquent expositors of natural religion among the 
moderns. 

" Now the reason of all this is perfectly familiar to every experienced 
and well-instructed Christian who takes his philosophy from the Bible. 
He is informed, and he believes, ' that out of the heart are the issues 
of life,' and he therefore traces all moral action to that capacious source. 
He is further informed, and he feels and knows it to be true, that ' the 
heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked ;' and because 
it is so, he understands the reason of the authoritative declaration, that 
from within, out of the heart, 'proceed evil thoughts,' and all the 
abominations ' that defile the man,' and make him at once the victim 
and the author of sorrows, suffering, and crime. To reach the origin 
of these evils, and, so far as our present condition will permit, to ban- 
ish them from the world, the Christian knows some remedy must be 
found which shall reach and purify the heart ; and he also knows that 
the sincere and vivid apprehension of the Christian faith is the only 
thing that can accomplish this necessary result. But though, for this 



476 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

reason, he regards all the mere human instrumentalities recommended 
by statesmen, lovers of learning and science, economists, and moral 
philosophers, as inadequate, yet he does not reject any one of them. 
He would employ them all ; but to each and to all he would superadd 
the Gospel of Christ, the ' wisdom of God ;' and ' the power of God,' 
and the knowledge that the practical reception of this system is indis- 
pensable to complete success, makes even the humblest Christian to be 
' wiser than his enemies,' and to ' understand more' than the most eru- 
dite ' teachers' of a barren philosophy. 

" Not that the general prevalence of Christianity would banish pov- 
erty or sickness, suffering or sorrow, from the earth. The poor we 
have always with us ; the ordinary ills of life are incident to our pres- 
ent state, and the Christian is not exempt from them. On the con- 
trary, he is exposed to many peculiar trials, and in matters personal to 
himself is seldom free from anxiety and disquietude. But the universal 
adoption and practice of our rehgion would dry up many sources of 
misery ; and by promoting the love and fear of God, peace, virtue, and 
benevolence, and giving a new impulse and a proper direction to the 
intellectual faculties, and to all the arts and improvements of social 
life, would insure to humanity the highest happiness of which it is sus- 
ceptible. And though many trials would still remain to be encounter- 
ed, it needs no argument to show that the blessedness of heaven will 
constitute an overflowing indem.nity for all the sufferings of life. He 
is truly happy, whatever may be his temporal condition, who can call 
God his father, in the full assurance of faith and hope. And amid all 
his trials, and conflicts, and doubts, the feeblest Christian is still com- 
paratively happy, because cheered by the hope — faint and humble 
though it be — that the hour is coming when he shall be delivered from 
' this body of sin and death,' and in the vision of his Redeemer, and by 
a never-ending progression in knowledge and virtue, approximate to the 
perfection and felicity of angels. 

" I will mention another reason why the friends of the Bible consider 
its dissemination as the most powerful instrument which can be em- 
ployed for the reformation and improvement of the human race. Not 
only does it inculcate, with sanctions of highest import, a system of the 
purest morality, but in the person and character of our blessed Savior 
it exhibits a tangible illustration of that system. In him we have set 
before us what, till the publication of the Gospel, the world had never 
seen — a model of feeling and action, adapted to all times, places, and 
circumstances, and combining so much of wisdom, benevolence, and 
holiness that none can fathom its sublimity, and yet presented in a form 
so simple that even a child may be made to understand, and taught 
to love it. This idea is thus happily expressed in a favorite hymn : 



APPENDIX. 477 

" ' My dear Redeemer, and my Lord, 
I read my duty in thy Word ; 
But in thy life the law appears, 
Drawn out in living characters.'' 

" And what is more, though none can equal, all can irtiitate the 
perfections displayed in the story of his life. The strictness and fervor 
of his devotions — the justice, meekness, and benevolence of his conduct, 
may be imitated by the humblest of his folloM''ers ; and each of them is 
bound to make the effort to do so. Those who truly embrace the Gos- 
pel will assuredly make such an effort ; and on those who do not thus 
receive it, this living exemplification of perfect virtue will yet produce 
a much greater influence than any merely perceptive code, however 
useful or complete. Many men who have never believed in Jesus 
Christ as the ' Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world,' 
have yet been attracted by the simplicity and loveliness of his charac- 
ter, as drawn by the evangelists, to the practice of benevolence and 
virtue. With a view to even such an influence as this, the universal 
dissemination of the Bible deserves the support of every well-wisher to 
the happiness of mankind. 

" Independently of the reasons which have been assigned, and of the 
predictions and promises contained in the Word of God, there are 
abundant grounds, in the former experience of the world, for believing 
that the universal diffusion of the Bible will actually produce the most 
blessed effects on the temporal condition and prospects of all nations. 
We know, from authentic history, what the state of Europe was at the 
promulgation of Christianity, and we can see for ourselves what it has 
become under the influence of that religion. We can see, also, what 
is our own state ; and when we compare those portions of our country 
which have enjoyed for the longest period, and in largest abundance, 
the blessings of the Gospel, with districts less favored in this respect, 
we see something of the moral power of the Bible. 

" But, after all, the great argument to be urged upon a Christian 
audience, on an occasion like the present, is that to be derived from 
the fact that the Bible is the word of eternal life, and that a great 
majority of the human family are yet followers of the false prophet, or 
worshipers of idols. The duty of sending them the Bible is palpable 
and pressing. It is also a most encouraging circumstance that the 
channels of intercourse between Christian and Mohammedan countries 
are every day increasing ; and as for heathenism, its old systems are 
evidently tottering, and as no new one has been estabhshed since the 
Christian era, there is reason to hope that none will hereafter come 
into existence. Above all, China, Burmah, and all the East, are not 
only ready, but eager to receive the oracles of God. Whether tliis 



478 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

anxious, this increasing demand, is to be met in the spirit of her Mas- 
ter, is now the only question to be decided by the Church. It can not 
be treated with indifference without stifling the most generous emotions 
of the heart — without denying our allegiance to Him who has bought 
us with a price, even with his own most precious blood. Would to 
God we could awake to the true importance, the heavenly grandeur 
of this work I The world is full of combinations for the acquisition of 
wealth, and authority, and honor, and myriads of our race are giving 
themselves up to such pursuits. But here is an object in comparison 
with which wealth is but dross, and earth's highest honors an empty 
bubble I an object to inflame the ambition, not merely of men, but of 
angelic hosts, for it involves the conversion of a world — the glory of the 
eternal I Doubtless all of us are constantly engaged in labors and pur- 
suits, the remembrance of which will impart no pleasure in the hour 
of death. But the proceedings^ of to-night, if with proper motives we 
have participated in them, will plant no thorn in our dying pillow. 
If any thing connected with the recollection of this meeting shall then 
inspire us with regret, it will be that we felt and contributed so little 
for an object so stupendous and sublime. Let it, then, be our study 
to give it our warmest prayers, our utmost efforts ; and not only our 
prayers and efforts, but the aid of a holy life. With such a life on the 
part of every Christian, added to well-directed efforts, and the present 
generation may see not only the accomplishment of the great work now 
proposed, but even greater wonders in the results it will have produced. 
The W^ord of God, distributed among all the nations, and possessed by 
every family on the globe, can not return to Him that sent it, void : it 
will — it must accomplish the purpose for which it was designed !" 

Demand for the Scriptures in Foreign Countries. BytheKev.Dr. 

Bethune. 
" Among the pleasing aspects of these hallowed meetings," observed 
Dr. Bethune, "one of the most pleasing is the spirit of holy Christian 
courage with which they seem to be animated. I have never witness- 
ed a fmer exemplification of the spirit of the text, ' Be careful for noth- 
ing ; but in all things, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
known unto God.' We have been quite too accustomed to complaint 
and lamentation. The people of God have been gathered together to 
be scolded and depressed by the story of failures and deficiencies ; and 
the goodness of Heaven has been almost impeached by the scantiness 
of our praise. We have too often forgotten the clause ' with thanlcs- 
giving.' But now another spirit animates us ; tho accents of encour- 
agement and the tones of hope are given forth by all societies. 

*' There is, I say, the spirit of Christian courage. There are many 



APPENDIX. 



479 



things ill the aspects of the times and the condition of the world which 
might alarm any but a Christian. But with the Word of the Lord m 
our hands, and its promises engraven upon our hearts, we have no right 
or occasion to fear. Confidence in God is the source of holy boldness. 
Luther was filled with it when he drew forth this Word from the dust 
and forgetfulness of ages, and lifted it up for the healing of the nations 
in the face of men and devils. I love this spirit — I love it always, but 
especially now. At one time we stood aghast at the violence of party 
strife ; at another, at the corruption of political intrigues ; and again, 
at the extravagances of false zeal and the prevalence of false sentiment. 
The Church, even, has adopted the dialect of fear, and turned pale at 
the perils which seem to hang menacingly over her. But I envy not 
the man who, with the history of this country before him — with the 
brightening aspects of the present by the side of the deficiencies of the 
past — can withhold the expression of gratitude for success, or suppress 
confidence for the future. True, we are not perfect ; we are sinners, 
and the fellow-citizens of sinners. The rulers are sinners, and they 
who elect them ; and all that could be desired is not and will not be 
attained. But, amid all the evils of our times, there is a spirit of, re- 
ligion abroad in the land. The spirit of our fathers is not fled. And 
as long as the Bible is kept among us — so long as it is made as free as 
the air — it will not depart. With this Bible in our hands, and its 
promises our inheritance, I will not fear for our country or the world. 

" There have been fears that, as infidelity was increasing and be- 
coming even more rampant, our common schools w^ould be deprived 
of the Bible and of the influences of religion. There has been too 
much public — not too much private — expression of apprehension of 
such a result. There will be no more likely way to bring it round than 
by proclaiming our fear of its occurrence. But the fear is perfectly 
idle, because teachers and parents, patrons and friends, are, and will 
be, too much inclined to religion, and too sensible of the great benefits 
which the Bible confers. But what if infidelity should banish the Bi- 
ble from the school-house ? so long as the people jread, they will be 
open to the influence of the Bible. I would unite with the rankest 
skeptics or errorists to circulate spelling-books, if I could do no more, 
because in the wake of the spelling-book the Bible will follow ; and 
if, six days of the seven, they shut out the Bible, the influence of the 
seventh would show the folly of their attempt to destroy it. , 

" I am not afraid of infidels, or the pope, or of tyrants, but I cmi 
afraid of the devil. While we rely upon the weaponry of the truth, 
and have the pledges of Omnipotence for our defense, we need not fear ; 
but we ma7j fear that we shall be seduced from that trust to confidence 
in other means. It is an old saying, ' Every cock fights best on his OMai 



480 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

dunghill.' If we will go down to contend with the devil upon his own 
level, we shall be defeated ; but, high upon the fortress of truth, our 
warfare shall be both safe and victorious. 

" I am not afraid of Catholics. I can afford to be civil to them, I 
do hope that none of us shall exhibit a spirit of enmity or a disposition 
to interfere with the freest enjoyment of their rights. They have their 
rights ; if I disregard them, I teach them the lesson of intolerance. 
We want no Church and State ; we ask not, nay, we spurn the aid 
of the magistracy in our grapple with the Man of Sin. In an atmos- 
phere loaded with the truths of the Bible, popery can not live. It can 
live nowhere but as it is nursed and strengthened in the lap of tyran- 
ny. It is a fact that the pope himself is bolstered up by Austrian bay- 
onets. Eight thousand Austrians patroling the streets of Rome, is the 
secret of the stability of the papal throne. Take away these minions 
of tyranny, and I would not give sixpence for the old man's life, kind 
and amiable though he be. A deep and unconquerable hate lies in the 
hearts of the people. An eminent artist once remarked to me, ' Other 
nations have their tyrants, inflicting their oppressions in this life ; but 
we are crushed by a tyranny which, not content with cruelties in this 
life, pursues us with the torments of another.' Give freedom to men's 
bodies, and their souls will assert their liberty. 

" If perils have been thickening upon us, so have the means of re- 
sisting them here also augmented. It is within my own remembrance 
that Bibles could hardly be obtained in this country for distribution. 
My own father was in the habit of sending to England for copies for 
his own distribution, and there paying an exorbitant price for them — a 
price which would now procure three or four copies at your depository. 

"The wisdom of the world looks with a cold and careless eye upon 
the operations of religious benevolence. But if that wisdom v/ould be 
wise enough to look, it might discover in these operations as much to 
claim the respect of the philosopher as the affections of the Christian. 
At the formation of the British Bible Society, translations might have 
existed in fifty of the languages of the globe. Now they exist in more 
than one hundred and fifty. And whose is the achievement ? Has it 
been done by your men of science — ^your savans at Paris or Berlin, 
London or Madrid ? Is it the triumph of science ? No ; it is the 
triumph of the Gospel : religion has done it. And if all the contribu- 
tions which missionary labor and Christian effort have made to the 
cause of science could be gathered together, the result would claim of 
the lover of science, and the mere philosopher, the homage of respect. 

" An interesting and touching fact is brought to mind by the pres- 
ence of this venerable stranger (Mar Yohannan), that the land to 
which the Bible owes its birth is calling to us to send it back again 



APPENDIX. 481 

It is a thrilling thought, that the land upon whose acres the feet of 
Jesus once trod, where his disciples lived and labored, should be calling 
to us, in these ends of the earth, for the bread which it first produced. 
Whose heart can resist such a call from such a source I It seems like 
a petition to us, before the door is forever shut, ' Give us of your oil, for 
our lamps have gone out.' Yes, God has given us the oil ; we obtain- 
ed it through them, and they ask only for its return. 

" But though in our efforts to distribute the Bible we act upon 
masses, that action can be induced only by the personal experience of 
its quickening and sanctifying influences. It is not by the power of 
these exciting scenes that we shall develop the spirit of Christian efibrt. 
Each must believe, and feel, and experience for himself We must go 
personally, alone, and for ourselves, to the cross. We can not be ani- 
mated, any more than we can be saved, by the piety of parents or the 
fidelity of others. If there be one here whose heart is cold to the 
claims of a dying world — if one can refuse to look upon the wide-swell- 
ing desolations around us, O ! he may be sure that he has not had per- 
sonal, close, and living communion with God. It is this which is 
needed, and without this the world will continue to perish in dark- 
ness and neglect. 

" The spirit of the Bible — this is the animating principle, the power 
to save the world. And I can not conceal my delight to witness a 
tendency to recur to the Bible. The dust of neglect has been permit- 
ted to gather upon its cover ; and I have trembled as one puny, paltry 
book after another has been substituted for the Bible, as guides, and 
manuals, and systems thrust between the soul of the inquirer and God. 
I have trembled to hear sermons in which Christ was not mentioned, 
and wliich could only be distinguished from Plato and Seneca by their 
inferiority. But the pubHc appetite is no longer satisfied with your 
milk and water. It craves a healthier diet. It goes back to the old 
^Titers — to Leighton, whose every sentence is redolent with the odor 
of Christ — to men who, after the bustle of the Reformation, had the 
piety to sit do^vn by the Bible and extract its sweetness to hoard up in 
hives, from which the busy Church of our day may feed while they go 
forth to bless the world. 

" The day is coming when we shall be gathered to a mightier assem- 
bly than this. It Avill be one, the contemplation of which will give 
exquisite delight to Him who sitteth upon the throne. It will be one, 
the joy of whose salvation supported him under the dark apprehensions 
of the garden and the burden of the cross. Will it not be a joy to 
stand by the side of that throne, and to participate in that joy ? Is it 
not a thing to be coveted and labored for, to enter into a happiness like 
this ? But its price is labor. It can never be gained but by those 

Hh 



432 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

who, animated by his spirit, have siifTeired with Christ, that they may 
be also glorified with him." 

In closing his address, Dr. Bethune introduced the Nestorian Bishop 
Mar Yohannan to the audience, who rose in his full Oriental costume, 
and was addressed by the president as follows, holding in his hand a 
splendidly bound quarto Bible : 

" Rev. Sir, — In the name and behalf of the American Bible Society, 
I present you a copy of the English translation of the Holy Scriptures. 
Accept it, sir, as a testimony of our high respect for your character, 
and of our confidence in your zeal to promulgate the great truths which 
this precious volume reveals. May you long continue a blessing and 
an ornament to the Christian church, and finally receive from her 
glorious Head the benediction, ' Well done, good and faithful servant, 
enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' " 

On the first leaf was beautifully written the following : " a copy of 

THE HOLY BIBLE, PRESENTED BY THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY TO MAR 
YOHANNAN, BISHOP OF OOROOMIAH, PERSIA. 1842." 

Looking at the Bible, the bishop replied in Syriac (translated by 
Mr. Perkins), " How beautifully and tastefully this Bible is bound ; 
but that which it contains is far more beautiful and precious. The 
Scriptures are more precious than gold. I show you a book — the New 
Testament, which I have brought from my own country ; how great 
is the contrast which it presents. I wish you to observe particularly 
how meanly it appears. But still it is the same precious Word. It 
was written 642 years ago, by the hand, on parchment. From ancient 
times a few copies of the Bible have been with our people : and it has 
been peculiarly precious to us, in giving us consolation and support un- 
der the severe oppressions which the Mohammedans have inflicted upon 
us ; and kept us not only from their errors, but also from yielding to the 
wiles and seductions of Roman priests, who have swarmed our country. 

" Among our population of 40,000, there are but six or eight copies 
of such Testaments as this. We ask of this Bible Society if they will 
not increase the number, and give the Bread of Life to these famishing 
people ? Other nations also, as well as ours, are looking to you from 
that dark East, to give them the Bible. It is this which makes the 
great difference between this land and those. 

" I heard with astonishment from the secretary, Mr. Brigham, the 
other day, that a thousand copies of the Bible could be printed by the 
society every day. How blessed would be the gift, if a few days' labor 
of this society could be given to my country ; how soon it would become 
like America. We want the Bible more than any thing else. We 
are poor, but with this we should be rich. Will you not send the 
Bible to us ?" 



APPENDIX. 483 

Unity and Catholicity of the Bible Cause. By Rev. S. Olin, D.D. 

" No topic, Mr. President," said Dr. Olin, " could more perfectly 
harmonize with my feelings and most established principles, than the 
one assigned me by your Committee of Arrangements, and yet I must 
avow that I attempt the advocacy of it with unfeigned diffidence. 
Though nominally, and of warm affection, belonging to a profession 
addicted to public speaking, I have been long estranged from its active 
duties. Once only in my life, and that twenty years ago, have I ven- 
tured to ascend a platform, and I have not more than twice been a 
spectator of such exhibitions. How much the unavoidable deficiencies 
arising from these causes must disqualify me from doing justice to my 
theme, and contributing to the interest of this great occasion, will soon 
be made but too apparent, and I should certainly avoid the egotism of 
referring to considerations merely personal but for a painful and most 
embarrassing apprehension that the good cause may receive harm from 
my unskillful efforts to promote it. I can not be quite ignorant of the 
high objects of the American Bible Society, and of the general basis of 
union among the different Christian denominations who co-operate in 
this labor of love ; but of those conventional rules, and tacit under- 
standings and agreements which must of necessity exist, and constitute 
a kind of common law upon the platform, and in the administration of 
this most catholic institution, defining the subjects and limiting the 
range of discussion, admonishing the practical advocate of the liberties, 
the reserves, and the delicacies of the partnership — of all these I am 
profoundly and unavoidably ignorant. With the most ardent wish to 
say nothing that will not promote harmony and brotherly love, I am 
liable to trespass upon feelings which I would sedulously guard, and 
awaken suspicions which I would gladly allay. Let me begin, sir, by 
an earnest disclaimer of every word, thought, and intent incompatible 
with the largest, warmest charity, and the most ardent desire to win 
for the principles embraced in my resolution the favor of those who 
hear me. 

" Little as I have*known of the histoiy and transactions of this so- 
ciety, I well remember the strong sensation created by its organization 
and by some of its earlier anniversaries. They seemed for the time to 
have developed new elements of Christian union and sympathy. The 
spirit of love which glowed so intensely here in the center, warmed to 
the distant circumference, and even in the remote position which I 
then occupied many pious hearts beat high with new-born hopes of the 
speedy advent of charity and brotherly kindness. I think, however, 
that these delightful impulses declined in vigor and nearly ceased with 
the novelty of the enterprise. The catholic spirit soon became chilled 



4g4 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

by contact with the sectarian — was lost in the collision of antagonist 
interests. The religious press and the pulpit fell back upon their own 
ground, and gradually resumed their customary tone. Hence the ar- 
dent professions, the brotherly greetings, and high resolves of the plat- 
form fell into discredit as stereotyped declarations — as fit topics to 
adorn a speech or a report, but of no further "application, and as even 
designed only to serve the occasion. I freely confess my own skepti- 
cism in the matter ; and one of the first articles I ever wrote for the 
press was a hot denunciation of the measures and policy of a state Bi- 
ble society, auxiliary to the American Bible Society. I still think 
there was something to complain of in the proceedings of that society ; 
but I have never ceased to regret an error which finds only an adequate 
apology in my too little experience and too much sectarianism. After 
this confession, I may perhaps be allowed to say that I was an advo- 
cate, obscure and feeble certainly, but yet one of the earliest and most 
zealous advocates for the dissolution of the Methodist Bible Society, 
and for union with this noble institution, where I trust in God we shall 
continue to labor and rejoice in harmony with our sister churchei5 so 
long as there is a family on the wide earth that wants a Bible. 

" Twenty years of observation, sir, have produced in my mind a de- 
liberate conviction that the sorest evil which presses upon the Amer- 
ican churches — the chiefest obstacle to their real progress in holiness 
and in usefulness— is the spirit of sectarianism ; and that most press- 
ing want, for which, as lovers of souls and the Savior, we are called 
on to provide, is that of a more pervading and warmer charity. It is 
in this vicAV of the subject, and from a painful sense of the obstacles 
which are as yet in the way of any direct attempt toward the removal 
of the evil, that I attach great importance even to the partial and tran- 
sient influences exerted by this catholic institution. As there is no 
other common ground for the congress of liberal Christians, this should 
be the more highly prized — the more sedulously guarded — should, I 
think, be kept open at all hazards. We should thank God for a day, 
or an hour in the year, hallowed by the presence and predominance of 
larger views and holier aspirations. It is good to inhale a higher, purer 
atmosphere, neither agitated by the din of controversy nor tainted with 
the breath of bigotry. It is really inspiring — it gratifies our better na- 
ture to stand in a clear light, even if it must be only for a brief mo- 
ment, where the veriest hack and drudge of polemics would be asham- 
ed to be seen with the badge of sect — where the poorest tool and bond- 
man of party may deny for once that he calls any man master. For 
myself, I should desire to build my tabernacle here, and remain forever. 

" But our business should rather be to get from the occasion a prof- 
itable lesson. May Ave not diffiise this spirit more widely, and retain 



APPENDIX. 4g5 

it longer ? Good will be done by even transient impulses. It is well 
to see religion in its beauty, if only once in a life-time ; it gives us the 
heau ideal of the Gospel, and pious hearts Avill sometimes reproduce it 
amid less congenial scenes, as the true genius is likely to become a bet- 
ter artist for having obtained a single view of the Apollo Belvidere or 
the Transfiguration. 

" But may we not secure more decisive and permanent benefits ? 
Can we obtain no useful hint for practical uses ? Whence the delight- 
ful emotions awakened by this inspiring scene ? We have consecrated 
two or three hours to a consultation on the best means of sending the 
Word of God to the nations of the earth. We have lifted up a ban- 
ner upon which there is only one word written — the Bible — and so 
dazzling is the glory that surrounds the magic device, that the blindest 
zealot could not add to it the shibboleth of his sect without feeling 
some dread of having added to himself the plagues of the Apocalypse. 
Who reads our glorious motto to-day without feeling his bosom swell 
with hope, and faith, and heavenly charity ? It is like the brazen 
serpent which Moses lifted up in the wilderness. It sends forth upon 
all who look upon it a joyous tide of spiritual health ; and he must not 
only be bitten with sectarianism, but far gone in his malady, whose 
case does not yield to the sovereign antidote. Now, sir, if this good 
banner which floats over our heads only for a holiday exhibition has 
power to inspire the most timid with courage, and to stir the spirit of 
the bold like the sound of a trumpet, what might we not expect if it 
were adopted universally, or generally, by those who go forth to battle 
m the name of the Lord ? What if we could agree to nail it to the 
mast, to sink or conquer under its protection ? Or what if all the 
tribes of our Israel would covenant together to adopt it as the common 
standard ? No matter who leads the van. Let the truest soldier of 
Christ be our captain, only let our common flag be the pledge of har- 
mony and co-operation. Let not Ephraim vex Judah, nor Judah envy 
Ephraim. It need impair no man's privileges, nor trespass upon any 
body's rights. Each shall enter into his appointed inheritance in the 
land of promise. Levi may keep the priesthood, and Judah wield the 
scepter. Zebulon may still dwell at the haven of the sea, and Issachar 
shall bow down between his burdens. 

" No doubt valuable progress has been made by all our evangelical 
sects. They all have orthodoxy and vital piety, but they mutually re- 
pel each other and the world by dubious or beUigerent manifestations. 
Each has loyalty in its heart and on its banners, but nothing is dis- 
tinctly visible to those without but a bristling array of guards, and sen- 
tinels, and spies, and marauders, who keep the outposts, throng all the 
approaches, and disturb the vicinage. Our churches have, in this re- 



486 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



spect, no little resemblance to many English country-seats, as seen over 
high walls and tangled hedges, by travelers on the top of a stage- 
coach. There are splendid mansions, venerable oaks, green lawns, ex- 
quisite shrubbery and flowers ; while every tree, and gate-post, and 
angle is labeled with terrific announcements that if any man so much 
as set his foot within this enchanted inclosure — if from all this floral 
opulence he pluck so much as a blue violet, or inhale a breath amid 
this wasted fragrance, all the dread penalties of the law shall be wreak 
ed upon him ; and that, in the mean time, the premises are thick set 
with man-traps and spring-guns, ready to anticipate the tardy move- 
ments of justice. 

" One is perpetually reminded by our preposterous contests of the 
ill-concocted coalitions formed by the powers of Europe, in their feeble 
attempts to make head against the hydra of the French Revolution in 
its earlier stages. No sooner had they concluded an alliance, which 
the diplomatists chose to call triple, or quadruple, or holy, as was best 
adapted to the case, and issued a pompous manifesto, full of brave re- 
solves, and of unanimous, undying wrath against the common enemy, 
than they straightway fell into a quarrel about the division of the Brit- 
ish subsidy, or the proper interpretation of the treaty, or about some 
question of kingly dignity. Celum mat, the sky might fall, but Aus- 
tria would not abate a jot from her high hereditary claims as head of 
the empire, and regular successor to the powers of Charlemagne. Prus- 
sia was a young kingdom, but could afford to be arrogant on the score 
of her more efficient and adapted institutions, and her military reputa- 
tion won by the great Frederic, and often at the expense of the proud 
Hapsburg. The smaller princes, meantime, had their own special in- 
terests and most sacred honors to take care of, and would by no means 
march against the French until they had clearly settled the order of 
precedence at a review or presentation day, and made all sure against 
irreverent omissions and curtailments in the matter of their very prolix, 
inharmonious titles. These were controversies not to be easily adjust- 
ed, and the parties litigant could seldom agree in any thing but con- 
tempt for the semi-barbarous E^ussians, who had scarcely exchanged 
their sheep-skin coats for regimentals, but always had a full share of 
the fighting to do. While the halting potentates were thus absorbed 
with the care of minor and selfish interests, the great captain, after a 
few weeks of noiseless preparation, bade his legions move from a hund- 
red points, and with a precision and terrible efficiency, which his genius 
knew so well how to educe from harmonious counsels and central pow- 
er, poured the tide of war upon their disturbed camp, annihilating at 
a stroke the threatening league, in which scores of princes and crown- 
ed heads had conspired his overthrow. History teaches us, in some of 



APPENDIX. 437 

its most impressive lessons, that it was not till the sovereigns of Eu- 
rope had been shamefully and repeatedly defeated, and had lost their 
capitals and their crowns, or held them by the sufierance of the con- 
queror, that they consented to learn the obvious truth which finally 
achieved for them a glorious deliverance. 

" It may be, sir, that I over-estimate the mischief and the danger of 
our present position, but I reluctantly entertain the sentiment I have 
already expressed, that our divisions, jealousies, and rivalries consti- 
tute at this moment the greatest evil that afflicts the Church, and the 
greatest hinderance to the triumphs of the Gospel at home and abroad. 
The energies which ought to be consecrated to the world's salvation 
are exhausted on unworthy objects. The religious sentiment, which 
is more active and pervading than at any former period in the history 
of American Christianity, is lavished on trivial controversies, or fritter- 
ed away in the vindication of petty claims and the conservation of petty 
interests. It has pleased God to lead us on to a crisis which, more 
than any that has occurred since the Savior's advent, demands the en- 
tire consecration of every church and every Christian to the holy work 
of carrying out his benevolent designs. By agencies which are only 
the more clearly divine because no man has been able to discern their 
source or progress, a thousand bolted doors are suddenly thrown open 
before us, and broad entrance proffered to the Gospel in every nation 
under heaven. Which of all our churches is ready to go forth to do 
the bidding of its Master ? Which has not its heart and its hands al- 
ready filled with domestic or neighborhood difiiculties ? Which is pre- 
pared to render a tithe of gratitude and duty to Christ ? Who has a 
response for the Macedonian cry that comes on all the winds of heaven 
like peals of distant thunder ? Who is ready-armed to rush over the 
Chinese wall, which has fallen down flat on the earth by an act of 
God, without so much as the blast of a ram's horn ? These doubt- 
less are serious questions, and they must have a serious answer, if not 
before, when inquisition shall be made for blood, and talents misim- 
proved shall be found written in the same book with the deeds of posi- 
tive enmity and open rebellion. 

" But, sir, I am asked what all of this has to do with the Bible So- 
ciety ? I am entreated to point out the latent affinities which bring 
such topics into some reasonable alliance and propinquity with the 
proper business of this occasion. I rely for justification, sir, upon the 
nature of my subject and the goodness of my object. So manifold are 
its relations to all that is dear in our own most precious enjoyments 
and hopes, so urgent its claims on the Christian's heart and conscience, 
that it may well demand audience on all occasions. The grievous evils 
of sectarianism might well form the peroration, if not the theme, of all 



488 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

harangues. ' Delenda est Carthago' were a graceful conckision of 
every discourse which is concerned for the progress of piety and the 
honor of the Redeemer. The interest which I advocate before men of 
all parties is a common interest, and not that of a clique or a corner. 
I stand, too, on high ground, where a feeble voice is likely to be heard 
by many, and may awaken some faint echoes. It is also neutral 
ground, and adapted, on that account, to protocols and overtures. But 
beyond all these considerations, and yet more to the point, the cause 
of Christian charity is identical with that of the Bible Society, and its 
wider diffusion must, to the same extent, open new fields of action and 
triumph for this noble institution, and produce new resources for the 
prosecution of its objects. I go farther, and freely declare, that the 
Bible Society is capable of achieving vastly more than it has yet done 
for this great melioration, and that to it we must chiefly look for all 
future progress. I believe it possesses elements and adaptations for 
doing good as yet in embryo, or but partially and indirectly developed. 
I know not who may agree with me in the sentiment, but I ascribe 
nearly all the improvements which, within these latter years, have 
beautified and enlarged the churches, to the benign influence of the 
Bible Society. True, the symptoms of better things had begun to ap- 
pear before its institution, and it may be even true that it had its ori- 
gin in the wants brought to light by the missionary movement. But 
if there were omens of good already, nothing efficient was done ; little 
was attempted until the great work of giving God's Word to all the 
nations of the earth was fairly entered upon by the churches. It was 
a heaven-born idea, that of unchaining the Bible, and carrying it boldly 
up to every man's door and every man's conscience, and bidding him, 
as God bids him, read and judge, and abide the responsibiUty for him- 
self. It was, perhaps, to be expected, that He who permits no duty 
to go unrewarded, should crown this high act of loyalty and faith with 
special tokens of his favor and approbation. And so it was, that as 
soon as the eyes of millions were turned with reverent and earnest gaze 
upon the revealed Word, light and grace were given them to ' read 
wondrous things out of God's law.' Great truths, that had lain un- 
heeded and unseen ever since the day of Pentecost, suddenly blazed 
forth from the illuminated page. The unsealed book poured forth ora- 
cles upon the wondering ear of the rejoicing churches, and they started 
into action from their dream of ages. Then it was that they gathered 
the children of rich and poor into Sabbath schools, and called lisping 
infancy to the task of solving mysteries which had long proved an over- 
match for giants of intellect and erudition. Then it was that they first 
mastered the import of that great saying of Jesus Christ, ' The field is 
the world.' We have all since written new articles in our creed, and 



APPENDIX. 439 

we have all wondered, and we still wonder, that doctrines and duties, 
so plainly revealed and so often read, should have eluded our spiritual 
perception so perfectly that the wisest and the best among us hardly 
guessed at their existence. Henceforth, to the consummation of all 
things, the cause of missions, of Sunday schools, of the Bible, will be 
taken and deemed to be the cause of Christ, and respected accordingly 
by all who truly love him ; for the diffusion of Bibles at once insures 
progress and guarantees the permanence of all religious improvement. 
That most kind-hearted school of philosophers, which teaches the per- 
fectibility of man and society, affirms that there can be no more de- 
cline in knowledge and the arts, now that the reproducing energies of 
the press can counterwork the devastations of a thousand Omars and 
the conflagration of a thousand Alexandrian libraries. So, thanks to 
the Bible Society, and to God's blessing upon it, we may confidently 
hope it will be with the progress of religious truth. The Gospel has 
appealed from councils to Sabbath schools. Its divine treasures of 
truth and life are committed to an innumerable company, each of whom 
shall stand up its faithful witness. We shall have no more dark ages 
in religion. What we get we shall keep, the best encouragement to 
get all we can. 

" Now, sir, the Bible Society, which has done so much for us, can 
do a great deal more. Of the new truths and duties which it has de- 
veloped, all are catholic and common to all the churches — not one is 
sectarian. It has thus evolved the nucleus of a universal creed, and 
develoj)ed a hint for its completion. We adopt reforms and religious 
improvements because God acknowledges them in his Word and provi- 
dence. Suppose we should carry out this principle over the whole 
field of our practical theology. There are a few Gospel truths which, 
wherever they are faithfully inculcated, result in the production of 
evangelical piety, and without which, whatever else is taught, souls are 
not converted and sanctified. Justification by faith — redemption by the 
blood of Christ — sanctification by the Holy Spirit — these are the doc- 
trines that save, that God owns and honors. They are the heroic reme- 
dies of the Gospel pharmacopoeia, sufficient, and alone sufficient for the 
soul's maladies. And, thank God, they are the doctrines, by eminence, 
of all our evangelical churches. Go where you will, in town or coun- 
try, in log meeting-houses or Gotliic cathedrals, be the sermons or pray- 
ers read or extemporized, if the preacher be pious and faithful, no mat- 
ter what his sect, his learning, or the grasp of his intellect, you shall 
listen to the same doctrines, a little diversified, it may be, in theological 
technology ; a Httle alloyed, it may be, by peculiarities of system ; but 
always, if there be no blinding influence present, nothing to be lost or 
won by proselytism, substantially the same doctrines, ' repentance to* 



490 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

ward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.' Sir, I have wan- 
dered much in the length and breadth of" this land, and heard men of 
all names and all varieties of education and intellect, and this is my 
testimony : Substantially, and in the main, they are one in faith. The 
few months which I was permitted to spend in the ministry in early life 
were much devoted to an immense congregation of slaves. I mingled 
freely in their religious meetings and exercises, and even they were one 
with the Church catholic in all the truths of the cross. Sad work they 
made of tropes and figures ; reckless they were of the graces and artistic 
unities of discourse ; but in all the matters of sore repentance of sin, and 
humble confession, and child-like faith in Jesus's blood, I never knew 
their betters. Sir, I have indicated a basis of union. These funda- 
mental truths, without which all others are nothing worth, and with 
which no others can be essentially pernicious, these may be a creed for 
our charity — at least, they may be adopted as articles of peace. 

" These are terms on which, as it seems to me, right-minded Chris- 
tians may harmonize and co-operate, may live and love, without 
compromising any principle truly Christian, without damage to any 
interests Avorth preserving. They are not justly liable to the charge 
of latitudinarianism, for they are not proposed as the full expression of 
our faith, but only as a guide to our charity. Make as stringent as 
you please both the creed and the code by which a man is to measure 
his own conformity with the Divine mind and the Divine law, but do 
not demand of your neighbor that he follow with you, as well as cast 
out devils, as a condition of favor or fellowship. It is only in the light 
of this distinction that the stereotyped arguments about the infinite im- 
portance of keeping clear of even the smallest errors, and of embracing 
every Christian dogma in every body's mouth, are either true or toler- 
able. They teach sound doctrine in reference to my own obligation to 
study diligently, and embrace cordially, every word that proceedeth 
out of the mouth of God, but the essence of all uncharitableness and 
heterodoxy if intended to put a limitation upon my love and confidence 
toward my neighbor, the only purpose for which these stale common- 
places of sectarian bigotry are commonly used. I do not remember, 
for I was yet a child when I began to listen to them, but the memory 
of every one has store of such aphorisms. The sentiment often faids 
utterance in the form of a metaphysical abstraction, and affirms that 
in the matter of religion, itself the expression of the infinite Mind, the 
smallest truth is unspeakably important, and every mistake fearfully 
dangerous. It often bends and perverts the Word of God to its pur- 
pose, and argues, that if a beam completely darken the eye, a mote, 
also, is unfavorable to clear vision ; that while none but madmen 
would essay to swallow a camel, a great philosopher may be choked 



APPENDIX. 49] 

by attempting to swallow a gnat. Men who aspire to logical precision 
in this matter affect scientific illustrations, and admonish us that ' the 
slightest divergence from a right line tends always to a perpetv.al and 
infinite departure ;' as if the Divine operations obeyed mathematical 
laws : as if the compassions of Christ were not always looking after the 
lost, and bringing back the wanderer ; as if the greatest miracles of 
grace were not often wrought in the heart while the head is far from 
having attained to completeness of orthodoxy. The captious polemic 
who, instead of rejoicing in the great truths of the Gospel, spends his 
days and sharpens his vision in microscopic observations on the small 
ones — who sees specks of war in the clearest sky, and reckons himself 
as good as idle when not plying his weapons, frequently and appropri- 
ately borrows his illustration from military tactics. He is guarding 
and defending the outworks of Christianity ; an ingenious expedient, 
by which the citadel is not only kept from the danger, but from all the 
noise and dust of the fray — a figure of speech which goes the length 
of teaching this sage maxim in the science of war, that a good general 
who had the defense of New York committed to him, would not think 
much of manning the Narrows and filling the city with brave soldiers, 
but should take special care to have a squadron of gun-boats cruising 
off Key West, and keep up a furious cannonade on Cape Cod. 

" But, sir, if under the auspices of the Bible and the Bible Society 
we may hope to find favor for these few and simple articles proposed 
for the furtherance of our charity and usefulness, it is interesting to in- 
quire into what company they may bring us, with whom they are likely 
to ally us in fellowship and co-operation. It is obvious that the basis 
proposed is not wide enough to comprehend all. It is a Protestant 
, basis. The Bible is to be the sole bond of union, and they who do not 
bow to it as the one and sole law for faith and virtue, probably will 
not desire more intimate relations with those between whom and them- 
selves there exist differences so fundamental and irreconcilable. 

" I say it, without the remotest wish to reflect upon any party, or to 
canvass their pretensions, that I do not see how men who believe that 
God has made the efficacy of the Gospel dependent on certain forms 
or prescribed channels of communications, can abate any thing from 
their sternest demand for strict conformity with their own views. If 
certain men are endowed with power or authority, in virtue of which 
the sacraments, in their hands, become the true and proper sacrifice for 
sin, and the appointed media for imparting pardon and holiness, then 
there is an end of all concession, and the want to be satisfied is that of 
absolute unity, and not of union. The only proper question is. Are we 
convinced by their arguments ? If so, we may pass over to them, but 
on no terms can they pass over to us. As Protestants, we have an- 



492 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

swered that question already, and taken an appeal from traditions and 
hierarchies to the Word and the Spirit of God. 

" I am equally unable to perceive any proper ground of union and 
co-operation between the evangelical sects and those who only recog- 
nize in the Gospel a pure system of morals, but deny its Divine trans- 
forming power. Such sects profit by strifes and divisions. They have 
no desire for union, and no need of it. Neither their creed nor their 
objects have any sympathies with the great reason that exists for union 
and charity among other denominations. 

" That reason results and derives its chief importance and force from 
the spiritual character of the Christian dispensation. It has pleased 
God, in the plenitude of his wisdom and sovereignty, that the Holy 
Ghost should be the great and sole-sufficient agent in the saving oper- 
ations of the Gospel, the Divine instrument on which all other instru- 
mentalities do wholly and absolutely depend for success. This is a 
dogma which we are wont to acknowledge as a truth, and reverence 
as a mystery : but the time has come when we are called upon more 
fully to recognize it, and give to it wider scope, as a fact, as the great 
fact of practical Christianity. To this fundamental principle all our 
plans and arrangements must be accommodated, or they will prove 
powerless. Now we know well from God's Word, and from the well- 
observed phenomena of universal Christian experience, that all the sen- 
timents, and tempers, and tendencies of sectarianism are the direct and 
proper antagonists of the great Sanctifier. They grieve and quench the 
Holy Spirit, and ultimately drive him away from the heart and the 
Church. This is the great evil produced by our unhallowed contests, 
in comparison with which all others are unworthy to be mentioned. 
It is, indeed, a sad thing to think of the vast amount of talent, and in- 
fluence, and piety neutralized and lost to the common cause in our mu- 
tual contests and rivalries. It is heart-rending to look upon the hosts 
of sheer party- men who hang upon the skirts of all the churches — 
Presbyterians, or Churchmen, or Methodists — ever more interested in 
a controversy than in a revival — lovers of sect more than of the Savior 
— ready to follow any leader Avho will blow a trumpet and assume the 
offensive. These are the legitimate and bitter fruits of our strifes, but 
infinitely greater and more baleful are the latent influences, visible to 
none but God, and of which none but the Omniscient mind can gauge 
the magnitude of their mischief The bitterness, the wrath, the re- 
sentments, the jealousies, the heart-burnings provoked by our contro- 
versies, are taken up into the general spirit of the Church, to poison 
the fountain of its joys and clip the wings of its faith. There are min- 
isters — pious men, no doubt — in all our churches and sects, who infuse 
enough of the sectarian temper into their public teachings to keep down 



APPENDIX. 493 

the tone of religion, and put to shame the spirit of charity around them. 
There are rehgious papers that from week to week send forth by tens 
of thousands their flying scrolls, each rife with the malignant elements 
of bigotry and wrath. A jest, a sneer, a biting sarcasm, perpetrated 
at the expense of charity, has awakened contempt for another denom- 
ination, or resentment for an insult offered his own, in the reader's 
heart, and ten thousand Christians come to the throne of grace with 
enfeebled energies and a wounded spirit. The agony of desire and the 
wrestling of faith are no more, and no fire falls from heaven to con- 
sume their offering. I sometimes almost doubt, after the contempla- 
tion of such evils, whether the religious periodical press be indeed, and 
upon the whole, a blessing to the Church, and whether any great prog- 
ress can be expected in catholic charity and true piety under its aus- 
pices. Certain it is that this one instrument has transformed sectarian 
bigotry into a monster of such huge proportions, that while he pollutes 
the waters of the Atlantic with the tread of" his feet, he can stretch out 
his long arm above the Alleganies, and drop poison into the sources of 
the Missouri. 

" Still more injurious are the influences of the sectarian spirit upon 
the missionary enterprise, which is, indeed, but an expression of the 
abounding and overflowing piety of the churches. The malign agency 
is felt at home in neutrahzing or diverting from Christian to party ob- 
jects the intellectual and spiritual energies, by the right use of which 
it is God's will that the world should be converted ; and on more than 
one foreign field has the ripening harvest, the growth of years of toil, 
and sacrifices, and tears, and prayers, been well-nigh blighted by its 
unholy interference. I know American missionaries, and I believe 
them to be among the holiest men of the age ; yet they are but men, 
and their piety must partake of the character of that of the churches 
at home. The churches, in their present state, would not, probably, 
send them out without a pledge, tacit or avowed, that they should rep- 
resent the peculiarities and prejudices which constitute our denomina- 
tional badges and our themes of controversy. Sir, our missionar}'' 
Christianity must be recalled, and remanded to Sabbath-school, and 
taught new lessons of brotherly love and catholic charity before it will 
prove equal to the conversion of the world. 

" Allow me, sir, in conclusion, to say, that so far as the denomina- 
tion which I have the honor to represent here to-day is concerned, I 
believe there is an observable advancement in the great melioration 
which I have attempted to advocate. A Methodist, sir, if a bigot at 
all, is one for pure love of the thing. It must be with him a sheer 
amateur business. I thank God, sir, we have no essential peculiarities. 
What we hold to be vital and most precious in religion, we hold in 



494 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

common with our brethren of other names. We hold nothing, we 
want nothing which ought to shut them out from our charities, nor, as 
M^e verily believe, which should exclude us from theirs. Do they pre- 
fer an episcopal organization and government ? Every body knows we 
have no objection to that. Do they more rejoice in presbytery ? We 
claim no higher office or dignity. Are they congregational ? We 
would that all God's people were prophets. Do they use forms of 
prayer ? We often do the same. Do they extemporize their devo- 
tions ? Our common practice shows that we think this a no less ex- 
cellent way. Do they use much or little water in baptism ? So the 
Spirit preside over the sacrament — so the blessed auspices of Fathv^r, 
Son, and Holy Ghost be conciliated, it is all one to us whether the 
baptismal font be the ocean or a goblet. 

" Sir, I am a sincere Methodist, and might be found ready, if there 
were occasion for it, to vindicate the doctrines or usages of my church ; 
but, I repeat it, I know of nothing in either incompatible with the 
largest charity, and the most cordial co-operation with all who truly 
love the common Savior. 

Inspiration of the Scriptures and their Sufficiency) as a Rule of 
Faith. By the Rev. H. V. D. Johns, D.D. 

Mr. Johns said " that the Council of Trent, at one of its sessions, 
declared that the traditions of the Romish Church as to ai5.cient matters 
of faith and discipline were to be received with equal reverence as the 
sacred Scriptures, and that he who despised them should be accursed. 
A popish bishop is reported to have once said that they must bid fare- 
well forever to the Scriptures ; that they must no longer rest their 
faith upon the beggarly elements of inspiration, as they could then 
' hear God speak' — presumed to mean thereby the pope. And Paul 
the Fifth, in a commentary upon one of the works of Fulgentius, says 
that ' this author stands too much upon the inspired Scriptures, which, 
if it be generally done, ivill certainly ruin the Catholic faith f a re- 
mark so true, that if all in the books that have emanated from the 
Vatican were of equal vaHdity, there would be much less reason to re- 
gret the vast volumes that have proceeded from that source. 

" The sixth article of the Creed of the Church of England very correct- 
ly represents the opinions of the Protestant world concerning the Bible. 
There are two propositions, which, if clearly established, sufficiently vin- 
dicate the high claims of the Word of God as they are there set forth : 

" 1. The first is, that the inspired Volume — the Volume which pro- 
fesses to be the foundation of our faith — is genuine, authentic, and in- 
spired ; and that it is the only book which has ever been proved to be 
thus related to God above. 



APPENDIX. 495 

"2. The second is, that the Volume of our faith contains ample di- 
rections for our faith and practice, and claims to be a competent guide 
to everlasting salvation. 

" These two propositions indicate the basis on which the language 
of the Church of England rests, and present the strength of their posi- 
tion in reply to the papal Church. It is not possible, within the limits 
of a discourse like the present, even if it properly belonged to the oc- 
casion, to enter upon the argument by which the first of these proposi- 
tions is established. So abundantly has it been defended that it may 
now be deemed impregnable. It is beyond the reach of victorious as- 
sault. Nor is it necessary to go over the ground of this discussion. A 
bare reference to a few of the passages in the inspired Volume in which 
its claims are thus set forth wdll be all that can be attempted." Mr. 
Johns then referred to passages in St. Peter's Epistles, and in the writ- 
ings of St. Paul, wherein the Scriptures are distinctly spoken of as the 
inspired oracles of God. " Luke gives us the reason for writing his 
epistle to Theophilus, that he might certainly know the things that had 
taken place. And to crown the whole, the Author of our salvation 
himself distinctly tells us to ' search the Scriptures, for in them ye 
tliink ye have the words of eternal life ; and they are they which testify 
of me.' If these things could be said of the contents of the Old Testa- 
ment, how much more true are they of the same blessed book when 
its pages have been still farther illumined by the light that shines 
upon them from the New ? 

" The supremacy of the pope impugns the supremacy of Christ. 
The charge that the Scriptures are insufficient for salvation impugns 
the truth of God. The allegation that the services of a priest are es- 
sential, affirms that the atonement of Christ is incomplete. These are 
three great errors worthy to rest on the triple crown of his holiness the 
pope. To deny these truths is to insult the blessed Trinity — the Fa- 
ther, Son, and Holy Ghost. The man who in our day denies the suf- 
ficiency of Revelation, seems to me to approach as nearly as is possible 
to the commission of the sin against the Holy Ghost. So stands the 
argument of the resolution I have presented. 

" But the practical bearing of this doctrine is of high importance, 
and its results are in the keeping of history. The universal distribu- 
tion of the Word of God sprung up as the natural child of the Reforma- 
tion. And it is this, and this alone, which has given such extension 
and efficiency to the missionary operations of the day. It is this which 
has proved so powerful in resisting oppression, and in effecting the de- 
liverance of the enslaved nations of the earth, It is this free and wide 
extension of the Word cf God v/hich has so diffused the blessings of 
education, and is carrying light and truth into the darkest corners of 



496 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

the world. The effects of the general study of the Bible may be clearly 
traced in history. We point to Ireland, and to Spain, and to South 
America, and ask you to contrast the condition of these Catholic lands 
with the Protestant nations of Great Britain, with those counties of 
Ireland v/here the Bible has been read, and with the whole continent 
of North America. Why are the people of Great Britain so bold and 
free in spirit, so vigorous in action, and so great in all they do ? And 
why are their Anglo-American descendants still more bold, and elastic, 
and free than they ? It is because those lands which rest beneath the 
shadow of the papal power have never been allowed this food for the 
immortal mind which our very nature craves, and which all the legends 
of saints or the mummeries of priests can never supply. Those lands, 
instead of Christ crucified, have given to them the crucifix ; instead of 
God's Word, they have the everlasting sound of matins and the tinliling 
of the vesper bell. In Mexico every sixth man is said to be a mendi- 
cant or a robber. Shall this ever be the case with this our beloved 
land? Let the advocates of tradition put in their wedge here, and 
there may be ground for the apprehension. But so long as we keep 
our hold upon the Volume of our faith, and trust to it as the one great 
ennobling principle of practice and of faith, so long will the life-blood 
flow clearly and the pulsation beat high and strong through the heart 
of the American people." 

The Irii'portance of the "■WritterC Word, By the Rev. George B. 
Cheever, D.D. 
Mr. Cheever commenced with a quotation from Bishop Hooper. 
"'I had rather follow the shadow of Christ,' said the noble reformer 
and martyr, Bishop Hooper, ' than the bodies of all the general coun- 
cils or doctors since the death of Christ. It is mine opinion unto all 
the world, that the Scripture solely, and the apostles' church, is to be 
followed, and no man's authority, be he Augustine or Tertullian, 
Cherubim or Seraphim.' This is noble. What heart that loves the 
Bible does not respond to these noble sentiments ? How admirably do 
they coincide with that beautiful image used by the apostle Peter, ' As 
new-born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow 
thereby.' Let the church of Christ be as an infant. How it clings to 
its mother's bosom I How it turns to the heart for nourishment I You 
can not allure it away by temptation. Let the Church come to the 
Word of God as a babe to its mother's milk. Is there aught else for 
it to feed upon ? Will the crusts of philosophy, the miter, the book of 
discipline, the apostolical succession, the holy water, the sign of the 
cross, extreme unction, or a grand cathedral, nourish it ? Will these 
things bring back a lost world from the death of sin to the life of holi- 
ness in Christ ? 



APPENDIX. 497 

" The Bible Society seeks to make us all children. This is delight- 
ful ; children in malice, children in our pure relish for the "Word of 
God ; but, for that very reason, in understanding, men I It carries us 
back to our mother's milk. This is blessed ; for it sometimes seems as 
if the Church were wandering farther and farther from God's "Word, 
from its purity, its simplicity, its experience. How do we need to be 
brought back to its homely but divine relish ! The Romish Church, 
and they who symbolize and sympathize with her, will tell us that we 
need to be brought back to mother church ; but this is not it. Our 
mother church herself, and we ourselves as a part of mother church, 
need to be brought back to God's Word. The discipline of severity 
and power wliich God made Luther and Bunyan pass through, beneath 
the fires of hisW'ord, the Church needs collectively, and we individual- 
ly ; for of the Word of God, as a fire and a hammer, burning and beat- 
ing in our hearts, we know little ; and if we know little, the world 
knows less. Alas I we have used the Word of God rather as an extern- 
al lamp than an inward fountain ; and hence, amid great enterprise, 
our spiritual weakness and poverty, our mountains of speculation, but 
grains of experience. 

" The Oriental churches, to which this resolution refers us, read as a 
solemn lesson. W'ould that God would make this country lay it to heart. 
amid the tide of Romanism that sweeps so harmoniously with our na- 
tive inward current and disease of formalism. There was a time when 
these churches were seven golden candlesticks, and one like unto the 
Son of man walked in the midst of them, the seven stars in liis right 
hand, his eyes as a flame of fire, his voice as the sound of many waters. 
The stars are fallen, the fire is gone out, the voice is hushed, the glory 
has departed, and darkness has settled down over some of the loveliest, 
the most Eden-like of earth's regions. 

" Now, the history of this ruin is the history of the neglect of God's 
Word, and of the melancholy change of the ministry of Jesus Christ 
from a ministry of the bread of life into a ministry of forms, ordinances, 
gorgeous rituals, self-aggrandizement, and hierarchical splendor, power, 
unity, despotism. This was the fall of the Church spiritually, this ex- 
altation of the idolatry of formalism. It began with the concealment 
and withdrawal of the Word of God out of notice. When the apostles 
died, the voice of living prophets having ceased, then began men to 
abandon the Word of God and worship tradition. Then they perverted 
the ministry of the Word into a priesthood of ordinances. Then the 
great sower of tares bestrode the field, and scattered his devilish seed 
broadcast. One superstition after another was adopted, till the very 
germs of truth seemed to have died out of existence. The seed sowti 
shot up into a great harvest of heresies. In the absence of the Word 

ii 



498 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

of God, these grew from green blades and leaves into strong, overshadow- 
ing black oaks ; and the world, like swine in autumn, were driven by 
the priests into the wilderness, to fatten on the acorns. For ages you 
could hear nothing in the world but the champing of swine in the wil- 
derness of Romanism. Those nuts contained every thing but the sin- 
cere milk of the Word. Paul has given us their contents beforehand ; 
the meat of ' philosophy, vain traditions, rudiments of the Word, ordi- 
nances, voluntary humilities, worshiping of angels, vain deceits, strong 
delusions, profane and old wives' fables, lies in hypocrisy, seducing 
spirits, doctrines of devils, questions and strifes of words.' There were 
Aristotle and Plato, and Abelard and Thomas Aquinas, and all the 
bitter, thorny, astringent fruits of the scholastic philosophy and learn- 
ing of the Dark and Middle Ages, but neither Paul, nor Peter, nor John. 
There were Peter's keys and Peter's sword, but not Peter's epistles. 
Sword and keys mankind had in plenty to feed upon, and their teeth 
were ground to powder in the mastication ; but Peter's ' sincere milk 
of the Word,' the priests would none of it themselves, and they kept it 
from the people. 

"Now, what were some of the consequences by which we may take 
warning ? for even with the Word of God in our hands, if we too neg- 
lect it, or overlay it with forms, or suffer it to be brought in bondage, 
there will be the same evils. Churches without Christians ; the form 
of godliness without the power ; the education, religion, and welfare of 
the people neglected ; great hierarchies in which all evil passions, that 
out of the Church raged under their own names, in the Church were 
baptized into Christ's name. The ordinances of religion were turned 
into slavish and idolatrous superstitions, or made a set of sable chalices, 
in which an ungodly priesthood might administer to the people the 
anodyne of a deadly religious ignorance and insensibility. The Word 
of God was as if dead and buried, and its place supplied by the resur- 
rection of a gilded, rotten Judaism and paganism. If, here and there, 
amid all this, solitary men lived, like Anselmo or Bernard, in an at- 
mosphere of religious truth, these were like sepulchral lamps supplied 
with oil by stealth, and shining within damp walls upon dead men's 
bones and all uncleanness. D'Israelir, a man who will not be suspected 
of religious bigotry or uncharitableness, he even hazarded the assertion 
that it may be doubted if, in the time of the crusades, there Avas a sin- 
gle Christian in all Christendom. 

" Now the cause of all this was the concealment of God's Word, 
and the despotism of a priesthood of ordinances. In the midst of all 
this the Reformation broke upon the world. It was simply the resus- 
citation, the reappearance of the Scriptures, and the change from a 
priesthood of ordinances into the ministry of God's Word. This is pre- 



APPENDIX. 499 

(usely what is needed now in those Oriental churches contemplated in 
this resolution. This is what is needed to make a second reformation 
from popery in lands where the light of the first reformation cither did 
not penetrate, or was early extinguished. In regard to the Greek and 
Romish churches, I can speak from personal observation, having trav- 
eled in the midst of them, and witnessed their superstitions, from the 
extreme of the splendor and Avealth of some, to the extreme of ignorance, 
poverty, and degradation. Almost »very where there is profound ig- 
norance of the Word of God ; and, what is worse, a deep hostility 
against it. The system of Romanism especially is characterized by 
this the world over ; and if it looks otherwise here or in England, it is 
only because of its proximity to Protestantism, and because it has to 
respect Protestant public opinion. In some respects, however, it does 
not even look different here. The burning of two hundred Bibles in 
New York tells the same stoiy as an auto da fe of the Scriptures tells 
in Spain or in Asia Minor. 

" Look into Borrow's Bible in Spain, a remarkable book, which in- 
deed about every body has read, and you may learn how Romanisrn in 
1838 hates the Word of God, even though the people would be glad 
to get it. That resolute individual was imprisoned, was threatened 
with death, and the prime minister of Spain himself told him distinctly 
that the Church forbade the circulation of the Scriptures. I happened 
to be in Spain during some of those years in which Mr. Borrow was 
prosecuting his work, and from some little experience of my own in dis- 
tributing the Bible, I know the truth of his descriptions. The priests 
preached against us in the Cathedral ; one of the few sermons of the 
year was almost wholly given to this denunciation. They called us 
Satmiistas, or the devil's emissaries. And yet these same priests, 
some of them, had the Word of God themselves. In the cell of one 
of them, who invited me to visit him, I found a magnificent edition of 
the Bible in Spanish, in huge folio volumes, with a grand commentary. 
I suppose we might have carried a shipload of these ponderous tomes 
into the country, and never a priest would have disturbed us ; for what 
can the people do with such books ? But when it comes to an edition 
of the Scriptures which the people can purchase and peruse, when the 
living Word without note or comment is offered to them, when its 
speaking fountains are set flowing and brought to every man's thirsty 
lips, then they cry Satanistas I Ave Marie ! Satanistas ! To the dun- 
geon with him I 

" So profound is the horror and aversion of the Word of God some- 
times inspired among the people by these means, that the ordinary pe- 
rusal of the Scriptures comes to be regarded absolutely as an act of im- 
piety ! In fact, it is only in Protestant countries that the Romanisi 



500 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

ever pretended to put the Bible in the hands of the people ; and when- 
ever they have done it, they have taken care so to muzzle it that it 
may not speak against their system. Like soldiers compelled to aban- 
don a citadel, they spike the guns before leaving them. 

" When they can not keep the Bible from the people, they mingle 
its fountains with such ingredients that their own purposes are accom- 
plished better than if the poison were administered by itself. The 
poison comes in the shape of a medicine, and the true medicine is ef- 
fectually neutralized by poison. 

" When I was a boy, and would eat fruit, my playmates used to tell 
me that if I swallowed the stones with my cherries they would not 
hurt me. The Romish Church acts upon this principle, and gives its 
children stones to swallow with the cherries, to keep the fruit of Divine 
truth from hurting the people. Turn to the 21st verse of the 11th 
chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and read in their version how 
the holy patriarch Jacob, when he was dying, worshiped — the top of 
his staff! and there read a justification of all the idolatrous usages of 
the Church of Rome in the worship of images. This is one of the in- 
gredients of deadly poison to the soul mingled with the fountains of Di- 
vine truth. 

" Our blessed Lord once asked the Jews, ' If a son shall ask bread 
of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone ? Or if he ask 
a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent ? Or if he shall ask an 
egg, will he offer him a scorpion V Yes ! you see that this is possible ; 
it is really practiced, this fearful cruelty ; it is done systematically, done 
on principle, done even in regard to the life of the soul ! I have only 
pointed out to you one of those serpents given instead of bread ; the 
scorpion of idolatry, coiled in one of those eggs, and given to the people 
in a lext of Scripture I In reference to such tampering with the Word 
of God, and such preaching, and such traditions, it may be said, in the 
language of one of the old prophets, that ' he that eateth of their eggs 
dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.' 

" I might pursue this train of thought much more minutely, into the 
con,jlderatio.n of the Sabbath and the atonement turned into sin, super- 
stition ^ ,(.uu idolatry, by this same enshrinement and adoration of form 
and ordinance, to the exclusion of the written Word. What, let me 
ask, are the two grand sources of our education in religion, liberty, and 
happiness ? 

" The Word of God is the first ; the spiritual and intellectual preach- 
ing of Divine truth on the Sabbath is the second. The spirit of Ro- 
manism would take them both away. In the absence of these two 
things, and the substitution of the despotism of a priesthood of ordinan- 
ces, is to be read the history of almost all past evil in the Christian 



APPENDIX. 5Q1 

world. Take, then, your Bibles from your schools, erase their peculiar 
truths from your school-books, and let a priesthood of ceremonies and 
sacraments take place of the ministry, and the ruin of our country's 
religion and liberty is sure. The grand conflict in this country is to be 
for the supremacy of God's Word ; a conflict between faith and form ; 
between justification by faith and justification by ordinances. All ex- 
ternal forms ought to proceed from an inward life, fed by the Word of 
God, or they are worthless. 

" They must be the natural force, the springing vitality of God's 
Word in us, jutting from our hearts like a water-fountain, that, because 
it has run all the way under ground, springs into the air in beauty. 
Your magnificent fountains in your parks would cease to play, and 
would leave nothing^but the marble fixtures, though they had the 
whole Croton River to play from, if you did not confine the water in 
an interior circulation. Just so our religious forms, if they be not the 
natural force of Divine truth that has circulated in the arteries of our 
spiritual being, are ready to become the miserable forms of idolatry. 
All flesh, saith Peter, is as grass, and the glory thereof as the flower of 
the grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away, 
but THE Word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is that 
Word, which by the Bible Society is presented unto the world." 

The Universal AdajDtation of the Scriptures. By the Rev. Dr. Pierce, 

of Georgia. 

" If," said Mr. Pierce, " the universal success of the Bible cause, the 
realization of the most sanguine wish of the most devoted adherent, de- 
pended upon the establishment of this truth, we might consume the 
hours of this anniversary in congratulatory addresses, and antedate the 
joys of a victory wide as the world, and stable as the pillars of heaven. 
If the propriety of the sentiment, the conviction of its justice and truth, 
were the pledge of a zeal as unwearied as its importance demands, and 
of an enterprise commensurate with its value, then, sir, you would 
have nothing now to do but to regulate your appropriations and direct 
your future movements. But, sir, human nature is made up of such 
contradictory impulses, that conscience is sometimes powerless where 
truth is clear, and the purest minds must needs be stirred by way of 
remembrance." 

Mr. P. then proceeded to comment upon the following points : " That 
the Bible, after prolonged research, has been admitted to be divine by 
the consent of the master-minds of every age. Though the oldest book 
in the world, it is still ever new ; its leaves never wither, and its beau- 
ties never fail. In the palmiest days of persecution, when the spirit of 
despotism was abroad, and the leaves of truth were mutilated by the 



502 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

frauds of the impostor, even then it might be said of it as was said of 
the ruler's daughter, 'It is not dead, but sleepeth.' 

" This element of perpetuity is proof not only of its truth, but of its 
wonderful adaptation to the wants and woes of human life. Though 
stretching, as it does, over a thousand years, and composed by men of 
various mental complexion, under as various circumstances, it is still 
the perfect realization of the idea of one mind. The dark gulf of fu- 
turity, over which poetry and philosophy hang with Avearied wing, is 
lighted up by its rays ; it attracts by no ingenious subtlety of argument, 
but ail its teachings are perspicuous and popular. Lucid in its enun- 
ciation, the points of faith on which hang our hopes of heaven are cov- 
ered with a flood of light. Through its columns the most gifted intel- 
lect may roam with profit, and before its re^selation human reason 
stands rebuked, unable, perhaps, to believe, and afraid to doubt ; and 
at the end of its pilgrimage, after the measure by which it shall test 
its own rectitude and consciousness, when that reason stands in doubt 
and despair, the great Teacher comes with the rule, ' If any man do 
my will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or wheth- 
er I speak of myself 

" The Bible deals not in subtle analogies and cold abstractions, but 
in the healthful virtues of life ; it comes home to the heart, and makes 
its truths the subject of consciousness, whereby we exclaim, ' That 
which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we 
have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands 
have handled, of the Word of Life.' It commends itself to every man's 
conscience in the sight of God by the excellence of its law and the 
conclusiveness of its testimony, so that even human depravity, when it 
walks amid its precepts, is compelled, like the devils among the tombs, 
to acknowledge the purity of its morals and the holiness of its presence. 
The genealogy of its proof demonstrates it to be the same yesterday, 
to-day, and forever ; the faith that justified righteous Abel, and whereby 
Enoch walked with God ; the faith by which Abraham kept the cove- 
nant, the importunity by which Moses prevailed, and the penitential 
sighs of David, still attract the notice of heaven, and call down the 
blessing of God ; the baptism of the Spirit still attends on the ministra- 
tion of the Word ; and though no cloven tongues of fire flame from the 
lips of proselytes, the heart still palpitates beneath the warm breathings 
of the Holy Ghost, before whose stately steppings the human reason 
falls in reverence, and the human fancy cowers in astonishment. 

" In every age there have been men who have set themselves forth 
as teachers of wisdom, but they have divided their doctrines into parts 
for the schools and parts for the people, and imparted them to a com- 
pany of select friends or pupils, whom they regarded, and who regard- 



APPENDIX. 503 

ed themselves, as a privileged order. Occasionally these instructors 
may have done more ; and for the sake of winning the temporary ad- 
miration of a fickle crowd, may have enhanced their reputation and 
deepened their sacred reverence by obscure enunciations of awful mys- 
teries — enunciations which were calculated rather to stupefy the soul 
than to make the reason da^^-n. Disdainful distributers of what she 
fondly called the first elements of religion, Philosophy kindled her dim 
fires upon the peaks of human science, and left man covered with mist 
and darkness in the vales below. All other systems than this of the 
Bible have been founded on misconceptions of the wants of man, en- 
riching tim.e by despoihng eternity ; they appeal to human reason, and 
exliibit, even when the majesty of mind is associated with them, an in- 
tellectual glory that stuns rather than instructs, and elicits an admiring 
wonder rather than the consent of the heart. But the Bible is adapted 
to all classes, ends, and states of men ; and where it fails to save, it 
never fails to refine : the conviction of its truth is sustained by what 
man feels within him and sees without him : and however invisible its 
operations, and however difficult to trace its efiects to their source, it 
still operates slowly and surely, and builds the monuments of its divinity 
by the moral changes it creates. T\Tiatever skepticism may insinuate 
of its improbabiUty, whatever malignity may coin of its worthless tend- 
ency, it is still the rejoicing of us all that the leaven is in the meal, 
and A\-ill surely penetrate the whole lump — that the mustard seed, the 
smallest of all seeds, is in the soil, and will shoot forth its tnuik and its 
branches, and cover itself with foliage, in which the birds may nestle 
and take repose from the heat of the day. For the divinity of the 
record, for the truth of its testimony, for the defense of our calling, and 
the justification of our ministrations, we rely singly and solely upon the 
inherent energies of God in the book. 

" There may be nothing in the operations of the Bible to attract the 
notice of the gTeat world ; but simplicity is nature's great law. The 
cloud that passes along without the pomp of thunder or lightning, 
pours from its generous bosom the gentle rain to gladden the earth, and 
makes the garden to smile and blossom. Philosophy, however, proposes 
herself as the regenerator of the race. Standing out at the base of hu- 
man corruption, with her form but half revealed by the artificial glare 
about her, she talks to the victim who is wallo^\dng in filth and un- 
cleaimess, about fate and necessity, and leaves the miserable wretch 
disconsolate in his lot, diseased in his fancy, and bankrupt in his hopes. 
But the Bible at one breath sweeps off'the mists from this palpitating 
mass of festering rottenness, reveals the present and the future to the 
eye of the morally maimed and halt, and says to them, as unto the man 
at the pool, ' Arise, for thy redemption is near.' 



504 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

" The Bible is a source of consolation in the calamities of life, and 
is equally adapted to the rich and the poor. But there are privations 
in the lot of the poor which make its teachings peculiarly necessary. 
The beams of the sun are never more grateful than v^^hen he bursts 
from the clouds and the storms ; and, in like manner, the Bible is never 
more welcome than when its leaves come distributing consolation to 
the needy, the desolate, and the heart-stricken of earth. The primi- 
tive denunciation falls heavily upon the poor man ; and when all other 
resources fail, where shall he look for consolation but to Him who cares 
for all — to Him who listens to the chirping of the lone sparrow upon 
the wintery hedges of the world, and sees the parched lily drooping with 
heat and blight ? Fear not, then ; for are ye not of much more value 
than many sparrows ? It tells us that He feeds the ravens, and hears 
the young lions when they roar ; and thus, when man is forsaken, and 
his house and his earthly fortunes left unto him desolate, it tells him 
that God, his friend, looks down from heaven, and careth for these 
things. In the course of my pastoral visitations, I lately called upon 
a widowed lady who had but recently buried a fond husband, and now 
had three or four children about her, dependent for their support upon 
her needle. As I entered the house, one of the little ones told me their 
mother had gone out for the morning. I passed on, and came to the 
habitation of an old lady who was without father, or mother, or near 
relation in the world, decrepit with years, and with a soul bowed down 
with often mourning ; she was alone in the world, and her tenderest 
earthly affections reposed in the silence of the sepulcher. There I found 
also the first lady, who had left her home, lonely and depressed with 
sorrows and care, and had called on Mother Cox — such is the name of 
the aged servant of God — that she might gather strength and comfort 
from her communion. There sat those lone ones, widowed of earthly 
hopes — the oae with a heart freshly scathed by the mysterious chasten- 
ing of the wise God, and the other with gray hairs leaning upon the 
reed of faith, which that same God would not suffer to break and pierce 
her hand ; and the latter, just tottering on the edge of her grave, was 
discoursing to the friendless Ruth, and leaning over the ever-bubbling 
well of salvation, and drawing the waters of life to quench the spiritual 
thirst of her young sister, and refresh her soul in its bitter wretched- 
ness. It was there the divinity of the Gospel, healing wounds and ele- 
vating hopes, and encouraging to that patient endurance whereby we 
mherit the promises. 

" It is the sin of the nations and the curse of the Church that we 
have never properly appreciated the Bible as we ought. It is the book 
of books for the priest and for the people, for the old and for the young. 
It should be the tenant of the academy as well as of the nursery, and 



APPENDIX. 505 

ought to be incorporated in our course of education from the mother's 
knee to graduation in the highest viniversities in the land. Every thing 
is destined to fail unless the Bible be the fulcrum on which these levers 
revolve. Can such a book be read without an influence commensurate 
with its importance ? As well might the flowers sleep when the spring 
winds its mellow horn to call them from their bed — as well might the 
mist linger upon the bosom of the lake when the sun beckons it to leave 
its dewy home. The Bible plants our feet amid that angel group which 
stood, with eager ^\-ing expectant, when the Spirit of God first hovered 
over the abyss of Chaos, and wraps us in praise for the new-born world, 
when the morning stars sang together for joy. The Bible builds for 
us the world when we were not, stretches our conceptions of the in- 
definite beyond the last orbit of astronomy, pacifies the moral discord 
of earth, reorganizes the dust of the sepulcher, and tells man heaven is 
his home and eternity his lifetime. 

" What, sir, was the Reformation, but a -resurrection of the Bible? 
Cloistered in the superstition of mediaeval Rome for a thousand years, 
its moral rays had been intercepted, and the intellect of man, stric^ken 
at a blow from its pride of place, M^as shut within the dark walls of 
moral despair, and slept the sleep of death beneath its wizard spell. 
Opinion fled from the chambers of the heart, and left the mind to dark- 
ness and to change. But Luther evoked the Bible and its precepts 
from its prison-house, and the Word of God breathed the w^arm breath 
of life upon the valley of Vision and upon the sleeping Lethean sea. 
Intellect burst from the trance of ages, dashed aside the portals of her 
dark dungeon, felt the Avarm sunlight relax her stiffened limbs, forged 
her fetters into swords, and fought her way to freedom and to fame. 

" The Bible, sir, is the guide of the erring and the reclaimer of the 
wandering ; it heals the sick, consoles the dying, and purifies the liv- 
ing. If you would propagate Protestantism, circulate the Bible. Let 
the master give it to the pupil, the professor to his class, the father to 
his- son, the mother to her daughter ; place it in every hamlet in the 
land ; then shall the love of God cover the earth, and the light of sal- 
vation overlay the land as the sunbeams of morning lie upon the 
mountains." 

Union of Effort in the Bible Cause. By the Rev. Dr. De Witt. 

Dr. De Witt said, " There is perfect Christian unity in heaven ; 
there are gathered the redeemed from among different tribes, and kin- 
dred, and nations, and from different forms of religious association. 
They dwell in cloudless light, and walk in pure love, and in full holi- 
ness, and unwearied consecration. They have passed through the wil- 
derness from the different encampments of Israel, and now they are 



506 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



gathered, not in tents, but in the temple made without hands, from 
which there is no going out. But the elements of this Christian unity 
are the elements of Christian character here on earth. The life of 
God, quickened in the renewed Israel, partakes of these elements, and 
there is a light that shineth here, the day-star in the heart of every 
Christian, growing brighter and brighter till the perfect day. It is as 
a pillar of cloud by day, and of fire by night, leading through all the 
mazes of the wilderness. Israel may have different tribes, but she has 
but one head, and she travels to one home. And nowhere is there to 
be found so strong a proof of this as when we come here with the Bible 
before us as the spring of hope and the rule of life. Acknowledging 
that Word as the sufficient rule of faith, all come together here, with- 
out regard to denominational differences. We have heard of family 
gatherings, after the members have been long scattered wide asunder ; 
at some common call they have all been brought home, and around 
the father's fireside they have remembered that they belonged to one 
family. So is it with us. Widely scattered, we come together here 
in a hallowed family circle ; we have one Father, one Savior, one 
Sanctifier ; and there is the one book, the fountain of all life, and of 
all hope. This principle, then, stamps and proves the feasibihty of 
this great enterprise. No Christian can fail to love it, and embrace it, 
and promote it. At our monthly meetings we have known no differ- 
ences. The Bible alone was before us, and to that alone were our ex- 
ertions directed. From that do we all drink life and hope, and truly 
has it been felt as the dew of Hermon falling upon us. In our own 
souls is the living witness. Is not here a practical demonstration of 
the feasibility of the work ? Forty years ago the British and Foreign' 
Bible Society was formed, springing from a simple proposition to sup- 
ply a destitute region among the mountains of Wales. It was a mus- 
tard seed then ; it is a vast, wide-spreading forest now. A small stone 
then, its base has widened, and its top reaches heavenward, and soon 
there shall be but one song on the earth, of grace, grace unto it. There 
has been but one name to this institution. The Bible alone has been 
the bond of union. We have been enabled to spread abroad this bread 
of life throughout the world. Some of the fathers of the institution 
have gone to rest. Places are vacant to-day which were once filled 
with those whom we delighted to meet in our midst. We miss him 
whose whole appearance commanded respect, who was a zealous la- 
borer through its whole history ; who did much by his Christian char- 
acter and fidelity to establish and extend the influence of this society. 
It was the beautiful blending of the intellectual and the spiritual in 
his character that made him what he was, and enabled him to bring 
forth fmit even in his old age. He was conscientiously devoted to his 



APPENDIX. 



507 



own church, and in his departure a burning and shining light has gone 
from their midst ; but we claim him as a member of this great body 
of Christ's church, and there is now a star in heaven that sheds light 
upon his hallowed memory. It was said by a celebrated minister, in 
speaking of the loss sustained by his departure, ' Never fear ; you can 
spare one from the oar while the Master is at the helm.' The ship is 
now on her way ; precious cargoes have been gathered ; but much re- 
mains to be done. Let the bread of hfe, then, be scattered every 
where throughout the world." 

Pacific Tendencies of the Bible. By the Rev. Dr. Parker. 

Dr. Parker said " that he felt overwhelmed with the responsibility 
of speaking upon this topic at the present time, because, as all were 
aware, there were exciting circumstances connected with it, and be- 
cause whatever was said there was spread, through the agency of the 
press, throughout the land and before the world. He was, however, 
glad of this, and especially glad that the secular press might now be 
regarded as the friend of the Bible Society, and as willing and glad to 
lend its aid in the glorious work of that society freely, zealously, and 
without pay. The subject of this resolution necessarily involved some 
allusion to the present condition of the country ; and he wished to speak 
of it as delicately as possible, and yet with the utmost frankness as to 
his real views and opinions. The country had been invaded, and was 
now at war. This we must all deplore. We might, too, deem it an 
unnecessary, as well as a lamentable result. If he could have had his 
way, a different result would have been sought. But when the execu- 
tive department of our government has had its way, and now that it 
has involved our country in hostilities, he felt bound to stand forth be- 
fore the world as the friend of the executive, and he should do so just 
as freely and just as firmly as if he had not voted for Henry Clay. He 
would not imitate, for he did not respect, the spirit of the half-grown 
boys who set up for politicians, and talk censoriously of men in high 
places, and denounce all their acts, and vilify their characters and their 
conduct. Upon preliminary steps he might doubt and differ from them 
in opinion ; but when the government has acted — when the shield has 
been lifted and the sword drawn, then he should appear as the friend 
of the government. If he did not think well of its measures, you, said 
he, shall not know it — the world shall not know it, from any thing I 
may say, directly at least. 

" He did not doubt that the Bible was to extend the influence of 
pacific principles ; but he did not believe that this was its only influ- 
ence. He honored the sentiments of those who were opposed to war 
in every case. He believed they were guided by heavenly principles ; 



508 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



but he thought they did not exercise their intellects sufficiently, when 
they expected that the Bible was to put an end to war in any other 
way than by doing away with the necessity of war. He did not be- 
lieve that the legitimate influence of the Bible was to make states and 
nations pusillanimous and mean. He did not believe that the sword 
was always taken in vain, or with God's displeasure. 

" The Bible, he thought, promoted peace in two ways : by produc- 
ing a high intelligence and independence of character — the necessary 
elements of wisdom and bravery essential for self-protection ; and by 
causing a holy gentleness, a spirit of conscientiousness, which will not 
allow men to resort to force even for self-protection, except in the last 
resort, for the defense of order and of law, and for preserving a free 
course for the progress of Christian truth. The Bible always has made 
men pacific, but it has likewise always made them equally independ- 
ent and determined in the maintenance of right. Think of the influ- 
ence and the conduct of your Puritan ancestors. And who were the 
men of the Scottish Reformation ? Why, John Knox was a veritable 
Andrew Jackson in fearlessness, every where and always ; but this 
spirit was blended in him with great gentleness, and conscientiousness, 
and loyalty. Dr. P. said he was very much interested lately in reading 
an account of a lovely and interesting woman, the wife of John Welsh 
and the daughter of John Knox. Welsh had been banished by King 
James for his boldness and independence. He went to France, and 
labored for a time among the Huguenots ; but his health failed, and 
he sailed to London, where he sought permission to return to Scotland. 
His application was in vain. But his wife sought an interview with 
the king. She told him that her husband wished to return to Scot- 
land, from which he had been banished ; that he would do no harm ; 
and that even if his sentiments were wrong (which she denied), he 
could do no injury, for he was too near the gates of death. The king, 
being struck by her bearing, asked whose daughter she was. She said, 
the daughter of John Knox. ' The daughter of John Knox,' said he, 
* married to John Welsh ! No ; the devil never made such a match.' 
' Very likely,' said she ; * for, please your majesty, we never speerecl Ids 
advice' Here was independence, as well as courage and gentleness. 
That is the spirit which the Bible produces. That is the spirit which 
makes this race of ours so formidable in iron energy, in strength, inde- 
pendence, and bravery. The Bible is pacific in its influence by elevat- 
ing the character — ^by making those upon whom it acts brave to main- 
tain the right, and wise in devising the means to do so. War can be 
justified only as a temporary evil — only as the least of two evils ; and 
the pacific principles of the Bible provide a perfect way, where no evil 
need be chosen. That alone is the best and the perfect method. The 



APPENDIX. 50 9 

resort to force has a great show of strength. Its armies, its ordnance, 
its prancing cavahy, and standards trailed in blood, and prisoners led 
in triumph — all this is grand and imposing, and the foohsh and thought- 
less world .say, here is the power, here is the best way to put down 
wrong. They forget that this may create the necessity for doing the 
same work over again. But God's method is final, and in the end far 
more powerful. It is silent and quiet in its operation. All his uni- 
verse moves on without as much friction as the finest chronometer ever 
made exhibits. And so is it with the principles of religion. The 
kingdom of God cometh not by observation. None but thoughtful 
souls can see the power. And yet it is the mightiest of all powers. 
When the Bible Society produces its thousand copies of the Bible a 
day, men hear or think but little of it, and know nothing of its results. 
But its millions of Bibles are educating millions of souls, and it takes 
several generations to show its full results. The mass know not that 
such a work is going forward. It excites comparatively no opposition 
— none, indeed, but of the far-seeing spiritual organization which has 
its center in Rome, That society, when it hears our reports, knows 
the meaning of them. Their language comes like that of the great 
city of the old world. It proclaims to their ears that Rome 7nust iier- 
ish. Yes, she shall perish, but not by violence. She shall perish of 
consumption and decrepitude. Her death is involved in the quiet op- 
erations of this society. It will be brought about by raising a spirit 
that will not brook her domination. Rome will find the Bible has 
taught Protestants to be independent while they are pacific ; to resist 
her encroachments while it seeks the good of all the earth. 

" The influence of the Bible, too, produces a more 'permanent peace 
than any other agency. The effects of the arts on ancient nations is 
seen to have been fleeting. The halls which once resounded with 
melody and glittered with beauty now hear the hissing of the serpent, 
and the long grass grows on the very hearth-stones of the ancient pal- 
aces. The works of art have perished ; the very ashes of their authors 
have been scattered to the winds. Whatever conquests the Bible 
gains, it keeps. It was not so, indeed, until the invention of printing. 
But now its influence is handed down from one generation to auother, 
and so it never dies. All sentiments and principles have a power to 
propagate and preserve themselves. The Jews have always preserved 
their clannish feehng of nationality. So, too, the sentiments awaken- 
ed by the Reformation in regard to Hberty of thought and the right to 
read the Bible have lived ever since, and will always live. They have 
become the ruling principles of that race. They have fired the hearts 
of freemen with a determination to resist tyranny even unto death. 
And now this new sentiment in favor of distributing the Scriptures is 



510 



AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 



acquiring power, and is becoming deeper and still more deeply fixed in 
the hearts of the people. This whole land is demanding an open Bible, 
and will defy the world to take it from them ; and this sentiment 
will be transmitted to the remotest generations. That is God's sys- 
tem, shadowed out in his providence and in the progress of events. 
And when the Bible shall exert its legitimate influence over all the 
land, there will be two reasons why even the enemies of the Bible must 
keep the peace : the first is, because Bible men love them ; and in the 
second place, they will put them in irons if they oppose the free circu- 
lation of the truth of God. There will then be power as well as gen- 
tleness in the feeling of the Christian world ; and never will they allow 
their rights to be wrenched away. The Bible brings a freedom strong 
to maintain itself and to aid others ; a freedom which will as soon con- 
tend for the rights of the strangers who come among us as for those of 
others." 

Address of the Rev. Mr. Bridel, of Paris. 
The Rev. Mr. Bridel said, the Bible society which he represented 
proposed for its special object to supply every Catholic family in France 
with a copy of the Word of God. He said there were two proofs of 
the effect of its labors : 1st. The rehgious impression it had produced 
in France ; and, 2d. The bitter opposition it has awakened. He gave 
passages from the pastoral letters of the archbishops in France, stig- 
matizing the movements of the colporteurs and Bible agents as venal 
and corrupting, to show how different is the temper of the French 
archbishops from that of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to whom Dr. 
Tyng had alluded. He spoke of the encouragements held out to the 
friends of the Bible now to labor with renewed energy in the cause, 
and of the especial claims which France had upon America, as a sister 
republic, for aid in this great work. France was now a republic ; but 
she was young ; she lacked experience ; she had not the knowledge of 
the Bible which she needed. But where it was possessed it was faith- 
fully studied and used. America must instruct France. The French 
Bible Society had been in successful operation until the recent political 
movements had brought a commercial crisis upon France, which had 
reduced to poverty some of the wealthiest friends of the society, and 
had thus stopped its resources and crippled its hands, just at the very 
time when there was the greatest and best opportunity for laboring in 
the cause of truth. Like a younger sister, France now appeals to 
America to give her the instruction she has herself acquired. 



APPENDIX. 511 

Demands of France upmi our Sympathij and Aid m the Circidation 
of the Scriptures in that Country. By the Rev. Dr. Kirk. 

Mr. Kirk said " that every person who has attended the meetings of 
the week must have discovered a peculiar tone, a peculiar impression. 
We are living at an unusual period. The voice of God is speaking 
through his providence in solemn, awful, and encouraging tones. We 
have heard all the while the rolling of his awful chariot wheels. It 
is his hand that sways the nations. He has caused the great ground- 
swell which men can not resist. Men can not meet under such cir- 
cumstances without peculiar feelings, and all whom we have heard 
have evinced the same deep under-current. His own heart had been 
full of it. It appeared to him that these anniversaries, in expressing 
the views of the Church on the great movements of the age, did a 
great and a good work. There have been various meetings to sympa- 
thize with France. The one in Boston was a miserable failure, one 
of the flattest he had ever seen, and that because they had dragged in 
the miserable questions of socialism, and had forgotten the great mdve- 
ments of the providence of God. The movement was the result of no 
plan ; it was the work of God. We may still be only in the first day 
of French creation ; man may not yet have come up ; but there is one 
that can bring him up from the brutality to which Rome has brought 
him. God is in human events, and we now may and must recognize 
this great fact. All our hopes for the future must be fixed on him. 
This is a day for earnest and for constant prayer. Let man sink to his 
own nothingness, and let God clothe himself in power and in majesty. 

" He would simply say, that in regard to France, we must give a 
practical sympathy for her. We must show the amount of our sym- 
pathy with France. She has not been a practical nation. Yet her 
race is a noble people, and has a great mission. But now they are not 
practical men. It is for us to show the result of what can be do7ie 
We of the Bible Society sympathize with the revolution, and we put 
it down in the shape of 50,000 francs to send to France. That is the 
practical work we ought to do. When shall we begin to show the 
nations of Europe that we are a people that will give our money — thai 
we are not a dollar-loving people ? We have been misunderstood. 
We have been obliged to earn our dollars ; but we have learned from 
the Bible that, having freely received, we must freely give. We arc 
acting for God, and we must give out his property to help our brethren 
in France. There would be a great moral lesson imparted by this 
conduct. But our conduct must not only be practical, but religious. 
We must tell France that there is her hope. Voltaire said that, in 
the nineteenth century, there would not be found a man of intelligence 



512 AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY. 

who would look at the Bible, except as an old curiosity ; and now he 
had been told that the very room in which Voltaire penned that sen- 
tence is piled up to the ceiling with Bibles, to be distributed all through 
France ! Within that book lies the charter of every hope of every soul 
that will survive the wreck of death. It shows the High-priest offer- 
ing up incense for our souls. We love it more than life, and if all our 
gold were piled in heaps, we should say, ' More precious is it than gold 
— ^yea, than much fine gold.' It is the daily use we make of it that 
makes it so precious to us. It is that on which we lean and in which 
we trust. The idea that this society shall to-day tell France what 
we think of that book, can not fail to produce a good effect." 



THE END. 



R C-1S6 





v-s^ 




>s^ 



^ 



















6^>- 



V ^^ ^' 








i*b^ ^^ 



AV ^ o « a 




^^-;^. 









V >. 






.4/ 








^ 












:v .^^ 






40^ 





'^OV^ 



*9t 











HO^ 











** "ii* A * .^^iiii^S * ^f' ^ Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 

'** ^*\ r .^^!r-!^^^ «• ^^ Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 

» A V*^ Treatment Date: Sept. 2005 

/v , PreservationTechnologies 

^ 6 ** * • * * WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 
4*^ • -r^^^v^-,^'' 1 ■< 1 Thomson Park Drive 



"^r.^ 



Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 




\^''\ ^^' /\ '"' 







\.^^ -IK- X/"^' : 

^ "^ a\ r^ 







.^ 



^^ ••' x<^ •C* '^vT' .0* 'o, -..':• .^ , < 

\'^^''J^ \-'*\<^ %'^'0** "^c 






